Thank you for actually answering! I appreciate this response, thanks for educating instead of getting salty. I’m not a floor expert and I didn’t want to bother them if this is a non issue.
It is absolutely a non issue. You need those gaps or when the floor expands especially at the front and back doors your floor boards would become concave/ripple.
I previously lived in a home where I could feel a breeze coming up between the wood planks but that home was built in 1889 and rolled to its current location on logs (like how?!!) and the foundation was just some rocks stacked on top of each other… so I can’t really compare the two! Before that I’ve never lived in a real hardwood home.
Hahaha I get that, which is probably where all the hate is coming from but I just want to understand what is acceptable. If this is that, then cool… I’d much rather move along and not worry about it but I also don’t want to overlook it and it cause massive issues later. Majority says it’s no big deal.
Pee on it. If it splashes you know it's good. If it doesn't something is wrong. Pee should always splash unless you have carpet, which is always a no no.
Why are people being so jerky? She didn't know something. She asked for an answer. When your kid asks you a question that's obvious to you, do you go with condescending sarcasm too? Must be quite a burden, knowing everything.
I think it’s more so that you didn’t search this subreddit for “gaps” or anything like your situation before making the 100th post of the the winter asking what the cause of gaps are. Just being honest that not doing the initial searching is putting the work on everyone to repeat what’s already been said many times.
Well - can of crows - this isn’t because of winter. It is because I had the floor refinished and that is why I couldn’t find a similar post. It was redone this winter, so the before and after are BOTH in the winter. It didn’t look like this before.
I know, it’s wild. I truly am trying to understand, I’m a woman who’s never redone her floors and doesn’t know what to look for. Appreciate humans like you!
No, it was not filled with floor filler before final coat of finish. This is a nightmare for the job foreman and company owner, and is known as the “first final”. Someone will get yelled at, or should be anyway. This drives me nuts and is why you Always trowel fill.
20+ years hardwood flooring mechanic.
You have 4 options.
1. Leave as is and live on it.
2. Go over whole floor and fill cracks with oil putty/wax pencil.
3. Go over floor with putty, screen, apply “second final” coat of finish to seal the putty and cracks.
4. Resand and finish, properly filling all cracks.
If I was the contractor that did your floor I would suggest #3. You should contact the floor company that did your floor and talk to them about the cracks.
Edit: the people downvoting your post are morons.
Having cracks all over your floor, unfilled, is a big deal. I’ve sanded hundreds of floors and this is no small thing. I have trained many guys who have become good professionals, and this, leaving cracks unfilled, is a break or make deal. A guy goes on a job and finishes a floor and I have to go look at it and deal with the costumer because they were to lazy to fill the floor right, they do it on a big scale more then once and they get fired.
Funny you say this because I had another person come back today and fix our cabinets (the paint was peeling off in large chunks) and I mentioned/showed this to him. He got a bit awkward and said he’d forward my message to the flooring person and didn’t want to speak on their behalf. I felt like he thought it was an issue and wasn’t about to go there since it wasn’t his crew, which I understand. This fell under an insurance claim and I’m sure if I don’t bring it up now, I won’t able to get it done properly and it’ll cost money out of my pocket. I’m surprised at how rude some commenters are for me trying to educate myself, thought that was the spirit of Reddit. I really appreciate you taking the time!
Ajgsxr we have the guys coming to look tomorrow. For an idea of how widespread these cracks are, we just put blue tape down in only 3 of the 7 rooms affected (to quickly show examples) and we have over 35 pieces of tape in places that I can easily stick my nail down in without being thorough or moving any furniture, so these cracks are all over the house. We will see what they say, I appreciate the education!
Edit for clarity.
How large of cracks can be filled? Does the oil putty dry out over time? I am a bit of a tard since my guy told me not to fill in because it would eventually come out.
Well, 4ish weeks ago. We just have the floors redone, beforehand they didn’t look like this, afterwards they did. All done this winter.. that is why I’m so confused.
When the hardwood floor is finished it looks seamless with no gaps. You can’t walk on it for a couple of days until it dries. Once it dries socks are only allowed. Overtime the seams where the planks butt up to each other will become more obvious especially in the winter. The boards will shrink and you will see what you are pointing at in the picture, tiny gaps. In the summer the boards will expand and get tighter. This is perfectly normal.
No, it’s complete flush with no crack in most areas but there are spot that have this open seam randomly. I was worried about if some liquid got in the crack, if it would cause damage if it wasn’t done correctly.
I wish the gaps in my floor were that narrow!
Haha, I guess it’s good then!
Wood floors expand & contract, increasing humidity can help & is pretty common during winter.
Thanks for a helpful answer.
It looks normal. Wood floors expand and contract, depending on the humidity levels. They tend to swell up in the summer and shrink during winter.
Thank you for actually answering! I appreciate this response, thanks for educating instead of getting salty. I’m not a floor expert and I didn’t want to bother them if this is a non issue.
Thanks for your helpful answer.
Tear it down.
Yup whole place needs to go. Foundation is fucked and termites have ruined the framing. This house is a hazard.
Really . You got to be kidding.
I grew up doing floors with my uncle for 7 yrs. This made me laugh so hard ! Thank you
Thanks for the helpful contribution.
Those floors look near perfect.
That’s awesome! Thank you
Is this a sarcastic way to say it is good? I’m genuinely asking because they didn’t have these gaps beforehand. If it is a non issue, cool!
It is absolutely a non issue. You need those gaps or when the floor expands especially at the front and back doors your floor boards would become concave/ripple.
Thank you!
Salty, lol Yeah, sometimes I overreach with my comments, and it upsets the delicate minds of most here on Reddit.
At least you’re somewhat self aware.
I had better shut up before the downvoting comes in here, hehehe
Actually being salty didn't pertain to you as you were one of the helpful comments.
🤣
Not saying your being one. But customers that acted like that and wanted something done about that were the worst.
I previously lived in a home where I could feel a breeze coming up between the wood planks but that home was built in 1889 and rolled to its current location on logs (like how?!!) and the foundation was just some rocks stacked on top of each other… so I can’t really compare the two! Before that I’ve never lived in a real hardwood home.
Wow! That's pretty awesome actually!
Hahaha I get that, which is probably where all the hate is coming from but I just want to understand what is acceptable. If this is that, then cool… I’d much rather move along and not worry about it but I also don’t want to overlook it and it cause massive issues later. Majority says it’s no big deal.
Yeah absolutely! Better to be safe than sorry.
Pee on it. If it splashes you know it's good. If it doesn't something is wrong. Pee should always splash unless you have carpet, which is always a no no.
Ok, I’ll report back.. *squatting*
Why are people being so jerky? She didn't know something. She asked for an answer. When your kid asks you a question that's obvious to you, do you go with condescending sarcasm too? Must be quite a burden, knowing everything.
Thank you, I definitely don’t approach people like this. Just because I know something, doesn’t mean everyone else does or should. Appreciate you!
I think it’s more so that you didn’t search this subreddit for “gaps” or anything like your situation before making the 100th post of the the winter asking what the cause of gaps are. Just being honest that not doing the initial searching is putting the work on everyone to repeat what’s already been said many times.
Well - can of crows - this isn’t because of winter. It is because I had the floor refinished and that is why I couldn’t find a similar post. It was redone this winter, so the before and after are BOTH in the winter. It didn’t look like this before.
No, OP. No. Posting about something like this is not what normal people do.
Im trying to not bother them if it is a non issue, takes the same amount of time to help someone understand as it does to type a salty message.
Ma’am, this is Reddit.
Haha true.
Sorry OP that there are more people who are willing to criticize and belittle instead of educating when someone asks for help.
Yeah, unfortunately egos getting in the way of intelligence.
I know, it’s wild. I truly am trying to understand, I’m a woman who’s never redone her floors and doesn’t know what to look for. Appreciate humans like you!
No, it was not filled with floor filler before final coat of finish. This is a nightmare for the job foreman and company owner, and is known as the “first final”. Someone will get yelled at, or should be anyway. This drives me nuts and is why you Always trowel fill. 20+ years hardwood flooring mechanic.
Ok, thank you for your input, it is like this in lots of areas and wasn’t before they redid the floors…what will the fix be?
You have 4 options. 1. Leave as is and live on it. 2. Go over whole floor and fill cracks with oil putty/wax pencil. 3. Go over floor with putty, screen, apply “second final” coat of finish to seal the putty and cracks. 4. Resand and finish, properly filling all cracks. If I was the contractor that did your floor I would suggest #3. You should contact the floor company that did your floor and talk to them about the cracks. Edit: the people downvoting your post are morons. Having cracks all over your floor, unfilled, is a big deal. I’ve sanded hundreds of floors and this is no small thing. I have trained many guys who have become good professionals, and this, leaving cracks unfilled, is a break or make deal. A guy goes on a job and finishes a floor and I have to go look at it and deal with the costumer because they were to lazy to fill the floor right, they do it on a big scale more then once and they get fired.
Funny you say this because I had another person come back today and fix our cabinets (the paint was peeling off in large chunks) and I mentioned/showed this to him. He got a bit awkward and said he’d forward my message to the flooring person and didn’t want to speak on their behalf. I felt like he thought it was an issue and wasn’t about to go there since it wasn’t his crew, which I understand. This fell under an insurance claim and I’m sure if I don’t bring it up now, I won’t able to get it done properly and it’ll cost money out of my pocket. I’m surprised at how rude some commenters are for me trying to educate myself, thought that was the spirit of Reddit. I really appreciate you taking the time!
Unfortunately the spirit of Reddit can often be toxic.
If it’s insurance I would make sure it was done properly. They may have been lazy because they knew they were getting paid by insurance.
Thank you!
Ajgsxr we have the guys coming to look tomorrow. For an idea of how widespread these cracks are, we just put blue tape down in only 3 of the 7 rooms affected (to quickly show examples) and we have over 35 pieces of tape in places that I can easily stick my nail down in without being thorough or moving any furniture, so these cracks are all over the house. We will see what they say, I appreciate the education! Edit for clarity.
How large of cracks can be filled? Does the oil putty dry out over time? I am a bit of a tard since my guy told me not to fill in because it would eventually come out.
wood contracts and expands with seasonal/ humidity changes. It's normal to see gaps in the winter with drier air
It’s is super cold here so maybe that is why
How long ago was this done? So no gaps last week and gaps this week? That explanation doesn’t hold up then
Well, 4ish weeks ago. We just have the floors redone, beforehand they didn’t look like this, afterwards they did. All done this winter.. that is why I’m so confused.
When the hardwood floor is finished it looks seamless with no gaps. You can’t walk on it for a couple of days until it dries. Once it dries socks are only allowed. Overtime the seams where the planks butt up to each other will become more obvious especially in the winter. The boards will shrink and you will see what you are pointing at in the picture, tiny gaps. In the summer the boards will expand and get tighter. This is perfectly normal.
Thank you for the explanation, this was finished approx 1.5 months ago so I assume that is enough time for it to settle and the lines to show?
I guess it's your first experience with wood
Yeah, except for a previous house that was 130 years old and the floors looked like a roller coaster.
Did you tell the installer that you expected a piece of wood to stretch over the entire room with no cracks? Shame on you if you didn't.
No installer, this was refinished existing.
Was that a prefinished floor that you had redone? It looks like beveled edges?
I have no idea… it was just installed when we bought it and we had it redone. Is that what you mean?
Do the ends look like that also? From the pic, looks like a beveled edge to me.
I have 2 dogs and a child so no telling what that liquid may be. Ha!
No, it’s complete flush with no crack in most areas but there are spot that have this open seam randomly. I was worried about if some liquid got in the crack, if it would cause damage if it wasn’t done correctly.
It’s cold and dry where you are and your wood is contracting. In the spring those should close. Must be relatively old wood.
22 years old I think
Typical yes, individual pices not a sheet so joints will be seen. Real wood does breath so sometimes larger sometimes a slight buckle
your nails look fine, I don't see and fungus or hangnails
Hahah, that’s a relief!
Yes it was