Wooden floors have gone wonky after four years

I had oak floors put down about four to five years ago in my apartment. I can't recall if they are solid or semi-solid - semi, I suspect.

I have just noticed that they are now uneven in the bedroom. The first manifestation was that the bedroom door wouldn't close properly. And I've now noticed that the boards seem to be sloping quite badly.

Please don't laugh, I'm completely dense at anything practical or DIY.

What do you mean by sloping? Are the boards cupping as in the first picture here, or is it something more serious?
Leo

Thanks, Leo. It could very well be cupping. At the moment, you can feel it more when you walk on it with bare feet rather than it being visible.

Sounds like lack of an expansion gap at the perimeter to me. This can be checked by lifting a skirting on a wall parallel to the main board direction. Not so easy to sort though, although a good carpenter might be able to shave off the 10mm required using a biscuit jointer. I also believe there is a specialiast plunge cutting saw designed for jobs like these and trimming doors insitu.

The apartment above me had a washing machine leak a few weeks ago. And, while the only noticeable sign in my place was a little water coming in through the extractor fan in the bathroom, is it possible that water has got into the walls and is causing the problem?

Sorry europhile, just re-reading your original post. These floors are down a few years and you're only having problems with cupping now? Well in this instance I would most definitely be pointing the finger at a leak overhead, I've seen this many times before. Water comes down through the easiest route available (which is a service duct or shaft in what otherwise is a pretty water resistant concrete structure) and migrates along impervious concrete floors, under floor coverings and timber floors. Have a moisture meter test done to establish the moisture content. In the meantime bang off a letter to the owner overhead to highlight a problem and advise that you will be having the matter investigated. Speak to the management company also.

If the leak has been fixed and you're sure there is no more water coming down a dehumidifier might do the trick. It will probably take the best part of a month to bring the moisture level down and even then it may not be enough.

Hi Carpenter,

Can you give more definite info on the plunge cutting saw you mention? I also need to do something similar in one of our rooms.

Thanks.

Carpenter said:

Sounds like lack of an expansion gap at the perimeter to me. This can be checked by lifting a skirting on a wall parallel to the main board direction. Not so easy to sort though, although a good carpenter might be able to shave off the 10mm required using a biscuit jointer. I also believe there is a specialiast plunge cutting saw designed for jobs like these and trimming doors insitu.

Click to expand...

I know I posted a link to one of these before, but can't find it at the moment. You can get specialist saws that allow you to trim a set amount from the bottom of skirting, door frames, etc., to allow flooring to be slid underneath. But these cost the best part of a grand. As they are so specialised, I don't think the hire places generally stock them.

Carpenters suggestion of using a biscuit jointer is a good one.
Leo

OK, failure to find previous post driving me nuts, but found that HSS do them for €37 a day. 110V though, so you'll need a transformer as well.
Leo

BE PATIENT.
it will probably dry out and fix itself.

xt40 said:

BE PATIENT.
it will probably dry out and fix itself.

Click to expand...

It will dry out in time but the timber will never be the same again, especially where one side is exposed to a damp surface (the sub-floor) and the other is exposed to a heated space (the room).

If using a biscuit joiner to trim wood the rubber "bumpers" (or metal spurs in some models) will have to be removed to allow the saw to be moved along the cutting line- this poses a risk of kickback and is not for the inexperienced!