When wood absorbs moisture in the air or loses moisture to the air, the wood fibres stretch and shrink. This stretching and shrinking happens faster at the edges of the wood. This can cause separation between the pieces of wood in two ways: ‘cupping ’ (where the long edges of the wood units are higher than the centre) or ‘crowning ’ (where the edges shrink, causing the middle of a piece of wood to rise). Cupping and crowning is largely attributed to water reaching the unfinished side of a hardwood board. Moisture may accumulate from excessive wet mopping or from humidity rising from a lower level of the home (e.g. a basement laundry area). If the water is removed and/or proper humidity levels are restored, the flooring may return to its original condition without further remediation. If you have any concerns with the condition of your floor, consult a hardwood flooring installer. A parquet or laminated wood block floor can make ‘crack’ or ‘pop’ sounds as it expands and contracts. These sounds are usually infrequent and should not be cause for alarm. Exotic woods with extreme hardness and stability will also make these noises as the wood adjusts to its new environment. Why are my hardwood floors cupping/crowning or shrinking? Why are my hardwood floors making a popping/ cracking sounds? Cracks can develop between strips of hardwood if the wood loses moisture because the humidity in the home is too low. Adjust your humidity, especially in the winter. Areas around heat registers and areas exposed to concentrated sunlight are more susceptible to shrinkage. Wood flooring applied over a floor with radiant heating is also more susceptible to cracks developing between the strips of wood. Radiant heating systems should be engineered for wood flooring with correct heat source temperatures and thermostatic controls. An engineered wood floor, where the hardwood is attached to wooden sleepers, is a better choice for radiant-heated floors. Why are cracks developing between strips of my hardwood flooring? 68 ANHWP.COM • ALBERTA NEW HOME WARRANTY PROGRAM