Why Are My Floors Buckling? 3 Common Causes

3/15/2023 (Permalink)

When your flooring suffers water damage, we are here to help.

Floors are an important part of any home and can be a great investment if you choose the right one. However, when your floors start to buckle or crack, it's an indication that something is wrong. In this article, we'll discuss what causes these issues to happen so that you can learn how to avoid them in the future.

Water Damage

Water can cause buckling in wood floors. When water gets into the wood, the wood naturally expands to accommodate the moisture. This can cause damage to the flooring material.

When it comes to wood flooring, this expansion can happen quickly if there's been an excessive amount of water introduced to your flooring. If your home or business suffers from a water damage event such as a leak or flooding, your floors are at risk!

High Humidity

High humidity can cause your floors to buckle and warp. High humidity is the result of excess moisture in the air, which is caused by water vapor or other liquids that have been introduced into your home's air circulation system. Not only can high humidity cause damage to your flooring, but it can also lead to other issues on your property, such as mold damage. In any case, it is important to keep the humidity levels in check.

To reduce the risk of buckling and warping, you'll want to make sure that you're keeping your home's relative humidity at a reasonable level: between 30% and 50%.

Drastic Temperature Changes

If your floors are buckling, the problem may be due to drastic temperature changes. This is especially common when it comes to wood floors, which can expand and contract depending on their exposure to heat or cold. This change might not occur drastically but can become an issue after just a few seasons.

It's Important to Get Professional Help Right Away

If your floors are buckling, it may be due to any of these problems, so it's important to get professional help right away. Floors can buckle for many reasons, but the most common cause is moisture. When you have excessive water sitting on a surface for too long, the wood begins to expand. This causes them to warp and crack over time as well as causing other problems like mold growth inside your home or business building.

A water leak or high humidity can cause buckling floors. If you see signs of water damage in or around your home or business, call SERVPRO of Kingwood/Humble for all your water damage cleanup and restoration needs.