How to Fix Gaps in Hardwood Floors?

Wood dries and loses moisture, shrinking over time. Result: gaps between the floorboards, a problem associated with older tongue-and-groove flooring and even wide-plank floors. It worsens when contractors do not lay the boards tightly during installation. Water damage is another issue for wooden floors because water-logged wood swells and shrinks when it dries. If your home has wooden flooring above a furnace room, the dry heat will cause the planks to form gaps.

While gaps in wooden floors are inevitable, severe gaps are more than unpleasant to look at. The gaps between the boards attract dirt or curl up, becoming a tripping hazard.

Filling the Gaps: Should You Do It?

Seasonal humidity changes cause all wood to expand and contract. If you notice gaps in winter but not in humid seasons, leave them be. Filling the gaps will create problems when the wood expands, especially buckling up if they have no space to stretch.

However, if your wooden flooring is old, the planks can develop permanent gaps even though they may expand and contract slightly with changes in humidity. Inspect your floors for gaps during humid seasons, as it is when the wood swells the most and the boards tighten. Hold a nickel upright into the gaps; call professional wood flooring installers if it goes in.

Have the gaps been there year-round? Fill them during the humid season because the gaps are most narrow then. Slight gaps may reappear in winter, but you can let them be because they will expand again in the next humid season.

Fixing the Gaps: DIY Methods for You

Read the instructions carefully to gather the necessary tools and supplies for the chosen method. Depending on your preferred method, you may need only a few.

Filling Floorboard Gaps With Wood Strips in 2 Steps

• Measure the length and width of each gap. Take the spare floorboards and rip-cut narrow strips using a miter saw. We recommend cutting the strips from the spare board’s grooved side to maintain the pieces’ depth.
• Sand down any visible high spots in the strips without damaging the boards and their finish. Stain the strips to match the floor.

Filling Floorboard Gaps With Rope in 3 Steps

• Clean the gaps with a flathead screwdriver or 5-in-1 tool to remove old putty and dirt from the gaps. Avoid damaging the edges of the surrounding floorboards. Use a shop vacuum to remove the debris from the gaps.
• Choose a rope slightly longer and wider than the gap. Stain the rope with wood stain to match the color of your floorboards. To do this, pour the wood stain into a small bucket and saturate the rope. Pull it out and let the excess stain drip out. Now, stretch it out on clean cardboard and let it dry.
• Make a line with the rope and place it in the gap, forcing it in with the putty knife or 5-in-1 tool. Once it is in, trim it as required using a utility knife.

Also Read: How to Clean Old Hardwood Floors?

Filling Floorboard Gaps With Wood Putty in 3 Steps

• Clean the floorboard on each side of the gap with a slightly dampened cloth.
• Apply a fine bead of wood putty to the gap, putting it in using your finger. Remove unnecessary putty from the surface with a putty knife without damaging the floor.
• Now, gently wipe along the filled gap with a dampened cloth to remove putty residue from the adjoining boards and let the putty dry completely. You may apply a coating of polyurethane or varnish to strengthen the surface and blend it with the floor.

The Takeaway

Gaps between the floorboards are normal because of the wood’s natural characteristics. These easy methods can be effective but tricky if you lack the experience. Also, depending on how bad the gaps are, you may require a hardwood floor restoration, for which you should call the professionals. If you are unsure and want expert advice, call Almahdi, and we will take care of the problem.