How to Fill Gaps in Wood Floors? All You Need to Know

Do you have gaps in your wooden flooring? It is a common issue many homeowners face. Don’t worry; it is normal and not a problem professional assistance cannot solve. This blog explains everything you need to know, from causes to preventive measures to keep gaps from occurring on your floors.

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Wood Floors: What are They?

Wood floors are natural and beautiful, and they are durable. You can stain or paint them to match any décor. If they wear down, you can refinish them to look attractive. Wood floors are of several types:

Solid Wood – It comes from one piece of wood.
Engineered Wood – It is made from multiple layers of hardwood or plywood.
Laminate – A layer of plastic or resin sits on top of the wood as protection.

How to Fill Gaps in Wood Floors?

There are several ways to handle this problem. Try these two:

Method #1: Use a wood filler (paste or liquid) to match the floor’s color. Use a putty knife to apply it to the gap. Let it dry, then sand it to flush with the rest of the floor.
Method #2: Use a caulk, a flexible sealant, to fill small cracks and gaps. Caulk is available in various colors, so choose one that matches your flooring. To use it, apply it to the gap with a caulking gun. Once it dries, sand it to level it with the floor.

How to Prevent Gaps in Wood Floors?

Prevention can help keep gaps from occurring on your floors in the first place. The first thing is to control the humidity in your home. Wooden floors shrink in dry rooms, so keeping the air optimally moist is necessary. You may keep the windows when the humidity is low or use a humidifier to add moisture to the air.

Choose the right wood for your home, depending on the location. If your area experiences high humidity, opt for engineered wood, which may be better than solid wood. Engineered hardwood is less susceptible to shrinking and expanding with humidity changes.

Seek expert wood floor installation services, as improperly installed floors will have incorrect spacing and aren’t properly fastened. Appropriate spacing and fastening help prevent gaps from developing over time.

Can You Fix Gaps in Your Wood Floor with DIY?

Have you done similar work before? If so, and the gaps are small, you may fix gaps in hardwood flooring yourself. It usually takes a few hours and does not involve extreme difficulty. However, large gaps or water damage may require hiring an expert.

Typically, filling gaps in a floor requires choosing the right material and following the instructions. You can fill the gaps and maintain them for years with some effort. Apply the fix to the gap with a wood putty or caulking gun. Once it dries, sand it to flush with the rest of the floor.

Conclusion

As is the case with hardwood floor repair work, you must ask the manufacturer of the flooring materials you use to ensure you know exactly what to do. If your flooring has extensive gaps or requires repairing, it may require a complete overhaul, which you may be unable to do yourself.

Also Read: Can You Steam Clean Wood Floors?

FAQs

Why does my wood flooring have gaps?

Extensive expansion and contraction of the wood causes gaps in the flooring. Gaps become more noticeable on old floors, which usually have gaps at the ends and along the lengths of the boards, whereas newer floors may develop gaps at the boards’ ends.

What can I do to fix gaps in my hardwood flooring?

Is your floor detached from the subfloor? Slide the boards back into place, gradually working around the room’s perimeter. Adding some pegging around the room’s edges can prevent sliding. You can also use a dust and resin filling, add filler strips, or a color-match acrylic filler.

How can I fill the gaps in my wood flooring with dust and resin filling?

You need sawdust of the same color to match your floor. Blend it with a clear resin filler and add the mix into the gaps using a spatula. It dries in a short time and provides a smooth outcome.

Are there other methods of gap-filling in wood flooring?

Apart from dust and resin filling, you can try filler strips or add a similar-color acrylic filler. Filler strips are fine batons of the same wood color and species that can help create an attractive, stable result. You can easily apply color-matched acrylic fillers without sanding at the end. However, matching the color can be difficult. So, seeking professional help is best.