Michael B. HardeMichael B. Harde is president of the International Association of Wood Flooring Professionals (IAWFP) and owner of Marlborough, N.H.-based Northeast Floor Covering Inspection and Consulting Services.MoistureUnderstand What Causes Checking in Solid Wood FloorsThe age-old misconception is that there are many conditions that can cause wood to check. The fact is that there is primarily only one. Checking in solid wood flooring has been and continues to be a prominent claims concern that all-too-often eludes proper identification, evaluation and resolution. Most folks involved with the wood flooring industry understand that checking is a condition related to moisture content changes in wood that results from drying stresses. Commonly misunderstood, however, is the fact that these stresses cannot and do not originate in wood installed within the normal environmental ranges of interior living spaces.Checking can manifest itself in various ways in different pieces of wood flooring. Below are some examples of problems that are all referred to as "checks" or "checking."• Checks are drying defects that occur during the lumber's drying process.October 4, 2011MoistureOverzealous Acclimation Leads to Gaps in White Oak Wood FloorNovember 30, 2007Page 1 of 1Top StoriesRetailThriving Through Innovation: See the Winners of the 2025 WFB Outstanding Retailer AwardsFrom reimagined showrooms and mobile studios to thoughtful mentorship, employee empowerment and social media marketing, these WFB Outstanding Retailers are proving that personalized service is key to long-term success.TechniquesUseful Advice When Dealing With Pine FlooringContractingHow I Do These Jobs: Refinishing DecksManagementHow We Transitioned to a Second-Generation Family BusinessSponsor ContentSawdust in Our Veins
