Thread: New floor shrunk - need advice

The timber was not fully dried before being laid.

Water will expand the timber for a short while but is not a fix.
The timber will dry again and shrink. This time it will probably cup and warp as well.

It all depends on the moisture contenet of the timber flooring when laid. If it was to wet when put down then the answer is probably no. If it was the right moisture content when layed but has since been subject to the heat without any temerature control then if you move in and maintain a fairly constant temperature it should make a difference.

We have hardwood direct stuck onto a suspended particle board floor, after a few days of hig temperatures you can see the gaps start to open up. If I mop it and leave some moisture on the floor - not heaps they will close up and stay that way till the next lot of extreme temps. Hopefully once I get the house air conditioned we will not have the problem anymore.

G'day.
How long was the floor down for before the gaps started to show?

Is there Direct sunlight on the floor?
Is the whole floor gapped or just the area near windows?
Spraying water on it will do buggerall.
How many packs went into the job?

Hi Trevour
Re your questions on the floor:

The florr was down about 4 weeks - during 40+ degree weather - before the gaps started to show. There is direct sunlight on the floor - but the whole floor has gaps, not just near the window. Not sure how many packs went into the job.

Am hoping you're right about spraying it - don't want it to look ok for handover and then open up again afterwards.
Ta...Elaine

Just read your original post again, 5mm is a massive gap, ours only open up about 1mm and not on every board.

Do you have follow up final inspection over there that is after handover? In WA there is one about six months (I think) after that builders do to check for any cracks etc that have to be fixed. This may give you some extra time to see how it is with you in if they do close up for hand over.

Originally Posted by Burnsy

We have hardwood direct stuck onto a suspended particle board floor, after a few days of hig temperatures you can see the gaps start to open up. If I mop it and leave some moisture on the floor - not heaps they will close up and stay that way till the next lot of extreme temps. Hopefully once I get the house air conditioned we will not have the problem anymore.

It's not so much the heat that opens up the gaps, as low humidity. Direct sunlight will dry an area quicker, of course, but that's just "hurrying along" the real cause.

When you install aircon you'll change the average humidity (swampies increase it, ducted heating & refrig decrease) and the floors will react correspondingly, until they reach the new EMC.

So don't get your hopes up over seeing the last of those gaps.

Originally Posted by glock40sw

Spraying water on it will do buggerall.

I'll disagree (just as a matter of principle ) and say that they probably will close the gap... temporarily and probably only partially. But as far as a long term fix is concerned, you're spot on: it'll do bugger all.

IMHO, any fix that doesn't include removing the boards and relaying is bound to cause call-backs further down the line.

mate, to put it blunt, your up ????? creek.great builder, hey don't worry, he will disappear like all the lther crap builders when the recession hits us. my question..... where do they all disappear to?

I'm no expert but have done a lot of research lately as we'll be laying a new T&G floor soon. All the reading I've done says that a floor will find its natural moisture level in the environment it is laid in. This causes natural contraction and expansion of the floorboards (contraction as they dry). The problem is exacerbated by airconditioners etc that dry the atmosphere.

So... watering the floorboards makes absolutely no long term sense, as they will just contract again once they restabilise with the environment they are in. I reakon he's trying to take you for a ride! Having said that, most hardwood manufacturers tend to say you should expect some gaps. And 1mm is not much.

Best of luck!

Hi

Originally Posted by efar

Our new home has a spotted gum wood floor which has cracks between 1mm and 3mm. We have not taken possession yet and the builder is watering the floors in an attempt to make the board expand again. Does anyone know whether this will work?
If it does work, will it be a lasting solution, or will the boards shrink again?
Any advice appreciated.

That would HAVE to be Bulls**t by the builder.

I seems to me the builder DID NOT do the right thing when laying the floor or the timber is no good and is NOW trying to FOOL YOU into thinking that "this will fix it".

IMHO IT WON'T

If the floor is NOT right now, it never will be. Wetting it will not provide a permanent fix and will probably smell damp as it dries out.

Of course the boards will shink again, for the very same reason they shrank THIS time. The timber has dried out.

Somewhere SOMEONE has stuffed up. DON'T take possession of the home until the floor has been completely replaced. If I was in your situation I would be out there watching them like a hawk when they remove and when they replace the floor, because builders NEED to make money and if they can do it by pulling the wool over your eyes THEY WILL.

They are already (IMHO) trying to pull a fast one on you righht now with the water "trick". I am sure if the can try this, they WILL try anything.

If you don't get a MAJOR problem like this fixed correctly and right away you will NEVER be happy with it. Make sure that everything you can check, you do check.

Based on this act by the builder, I think it may be worth the cost of having an independant assesment of the house.

Builders normally don't like fixing mistakes, it costs them too much of their profit. If you are "in the right" then stand firm.

Good luck

Hi

Originally Posted by Burnsy

Do you have follow up final inspection over there that is after handover? In WA there is one about six months (I think) after that builders do to check for any cracks etc that have to be fixed. This may give you some extra time to see how it is with you in if they do close up for hand over.

Even if there is another "final" inspection, DON'T WAIT FOR THAT, the builder WILL have your money and will be far less inclined to do the "proper" fix. You will ultimately end up with never ending problem that will never be fixed, until YOU finally give up on the builder.

IMHO it is PARAMOUNT that this problem is CORRECTLY rectified BEFORE HANDOVER.

Builders will try to browbeat you into submission or lul you into that false sense of security that everything will be alright, "they'll take care of everything"

I have yet to see a builder that has NOT been tarred with the same brush - only the thickness varies

If there is enough proper evidence that the floor is faulty/laid faulty etc then stand your ground and have it fixed. You WILL get better attention while the builder is waiting for his final payment. AMHIKT BTDT (Been there done that) and my brother has been a supervisor for several construction companies here in WA. I have heard many stories

He is the construction manager now, so everything gets done right the first time or it's fixed straight away, he "lays down the law" to his supervisors. It's his way or no way. My dad was a fastidious but efficient bricklayer so we "kind of know" what goes on.