Moisture

What Is the Top Thing You Do to Prevent Moisture Issues?

Wood floor pros share their best practices for preventing problems with moisture on their wood flooring installations.

Dj25 Talking Shop Moisture

Sports Flooring

Wood Flooring Q&A: How Much Gym Floor Expansion Do I Need?

I am going to be installing my first gym floor. How much expansion do we need at the walls? Wood floor expert Howard Brickman answers this question.

When gym flooring is tight against the walls, either there wasn’t enough expansion space to begin with, or site conditions have caused the flooring to swell.

How I Avoid Getting Rolled Up Like Sushi in Court

In the far-fetched case a client is unhappy with me or tries to take me to court, I would hope and pray I don’t get matched against an attorney who is half of what my Uncle John was—his superpower was charisma, and Uncle John rarely lost.

How I Avoid Sushi

Understand These Wood Science Basics for Better Wood Floors

While the science of wood reacting to water can be difficult to understand, knowing a few basic fundamentals can make wood’s performance in different environmental conditions predictable.

The long axis of most wood cells is oriented parallel with the tree length.

Wood Flooring Q&A: Which Self-Leveler Should I Use Underneath Moisture-Resistant Adhesive?

Does it matter what self-leveler you use underneath your wood flooring moisture-resistant adhesive? Read this for more info.

Using the wrong products can allow excess moisture to affect the wood flooring—cupping (shown here) is just one potential problem.

Wood Floor Q&A: Precautions for Installing Below Grade?

Tim Colgan, technical director at Milton, Ga.-based Välinge North America Inc., discusses wood floor installation below grade.

When installing wood flooring below grade, moisture is always a concern, so thorough moisture testing should be a priority. (Photo courtesy of Tim McCool)

Understand ‘Normal’ and ‘Abnormal’ Gaps in Wood Flooring

Wood floor expert Howard Brickman explains the straightforward facts about wood floor gaps—when they're OK and when they aren't.

Relatively small gaps can appear more objectionable when the floor is stained dark and the lighter color of the wood appears in the gaps.

Wood Floor Mystery #16: It’s Cupping, But There’s No Water Here, Part 2 (the Answer!)

Stephen Diggins knew there had to be water somewhere in this house causing the wood flooring to cup ... and he found it when the disgusting black water ended up pouring right onto his face and down his shirt.

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Wood Floor Mystery #16: It’s Cupping, But There’s No Water Here, Part 1

Wood floor pro Stephen Diggins inspects a solid wood floor that's cupping—but there's no water anywhere. Where is the cupping coming from?

What Lies Beneath: How I Prevent Moisture Problems Before the Sale

Wood flooring expert Adam Bissey and moisture expert Gary Szymanski explain how to combine to fix moisture problems in basements and crawl spaces so that the wood floors are protected.

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Engineered Flooring and Low RH: What Can Happen and Why

Wood flooring expert Howard Brickman explains that forces at play with low relative humidity and engineered wood flooring—forces that can lead to dry-cupping, splits and more.

The raised edge of this wear layer (lamella) was created by shrinkage due to seasonal low relative humidity.

Wood Flooring Q&A: Is That Moisture Reading Correct?

A moisture meter is your best insurance for knowing if a wood floor is ready for installation, but only if you’re using it correctly and its results are accurate. Here's how you can tell.

Inaccurate moisture meter readings could lead to thinking the flooring is acclimated correctly for installation when it isn’t.

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