Old House Journal

EASY WOOD FLOORING FIXES

WHAT ABOUT GAPS?

Both plank and tongue-and-groove flooring can develop unsightly gaps as the floor ages, caused by compression shrinkage. During periods of high humidity, a floorboard expands and compresses its neighbors. When dry air returns, the boards shrink, but don’t fully decompress, and a gap opens. Since the pattern persists, it’s best to do nothing, especially if gaps close up in humid months. Alternatives:

• For gaps that appear only in dry, cold weather, try running a humidifier

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