Looks to me like there are times the crawlspace has a lot of water.
Cupped floors are always a moisture issue. It is not the foundation shifting, which would cause a different distortion.
In short, there is more moisture on the bottom of the planks than there is on the top. Moisture causes wood to swell. Therefore, the bottom of the plank swells more than the top because there is more moisture there. This causes cupping.
Severe cupping can permanantly damage the wood. The solution is to address the moisture. Crawl spaces, in my experience, are areas that routinely experience moisture related issues and it is best to address this before the floor is laid.
DO NOT address the cupping by sanding the floor flat and refinishing it. There may be a time of year when the crawl space is relatively dry, and if and when that happens the bottom of the boards would contract. We would then have "crowning" instead. And you would have permanantly sanded the flooring out of shape.
I joined this forum specifically to share some information about moisture related issues in wood flooring, and lo and behold, we already have someone with a problem.
I'll be adding some general information postings later, as I feel the industry as a whole does an inadequate job addressing moisture issues.
Now there's some food for thought..............Here in the old homes and mansions built in the 1930's, the original 2¼ x 33/32 quarter sawn Oak straight over the floor joist are all cupped to some degree... If you actually crawl under and look up. Old oiled beams and joists, and the bottom of the flooring.
But go inside and they are as flat as can be and never an issue. Some the original finish, believe it or not.
That is because it has always lived in that state. Nothing has ever changed. No more moisture loss or gain, in the boards gradient moisture.
Always thinking about food .Now there's some food for thought..............
Always thinking about food .
Here in the old homes and mansions built in the 1930's, the original 2¼ x 33/32 quarter sawn Oak straight over the floor joist are all cupped to some degree... If you actually crawl under and look up. Old oiled beams and joists, and the bottom of the flooring.
But go inside and they are as flat as can be and never an issue. Some the original finish, believe it or not.
That is because it has always lived in that state. Nothing has ever changed. No more moisture loss or gain, in the boards gradient moisture.
Cupped floors are always a moisture issue. It is not the foundation shifting, which would cause a different distortion.
In short, there is more moisture on the bottom of the planks than there is on the top. Moisture causes wood to swell. Therefore, the bottom of the plank swells more than the top because there is more moisture there. This causes cupping.
Severe cupping can permanantly damage the wood. The solution is to address the moisture. Crawl spaces, in my experience, are areas that routinely experience moisture related issues and it is best to address this before the floor is laid.
DO NOT address the cupping by sanding the floor flat and refinishing it. There may be a time of year when the crawl space is relatively dry, and if and when that happens the bottom of the boards would contract. We would then have "crowning" instead. And you would have permanantly sanded the flooring out of shape.
I joined this forum specifically to share some information about moisture related issues in wood flooring, and lo and behold, we already have someone with a problem.
I'll be adding some general information postings later, as I feel the industry as a whole does an inadequate job addressing moisture issues.
My solid wood flooring is cupping. I have older wood flooring on 3 sides of the new floor. The original flooring is fine, but the new wood flooring is cupping. The company which installed the floor says that moisture reading are not normally taken when installing in a home.
Enter your email address to join: