Is there a way to fix 1/4 gaps in a hardwood floor?
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We have a client in Marstons Mills on Cape Cod with a random width wood floor and the filler is crumbling and coming out. The floor is only two years old, but was obviously installed improperly. Is there any good way to repair it?
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The fact that there was filler in the original work suggests that it was a crummy job from the start, done with materials that were way too wet. (Though probably this is an on-going problem on Cape Cod -- you're practically sitting in a swamp.)
It looks like "engineered" flooring of some sort. It might be possible to pull it up and re-lay it.
Durham's rock hard
But, ya gotta get all the soft crap out of there first. Like Dan says, pretty crummy job with those big gaps. Any possibility of pressure washing ? (probably not an option if finished ceiling underneath)
Really?
Do you really advocate pressure washing a hardwood (engineered or otherwise) floor? Just how would that process help?
Durham's rock hard But, ya
edit delete, duplicate, response so slow thought the post key had not been hit....
No, there is no good way to fix it. There are several bad ways but obviously one of the bad ways has already been tried. No filler made is going to both look good and keep the cracks filled. Wood floors move too much for a hard filler to stay put and a filler that stayed pliable would look terrible. I expect you already know the answer.
Re-installing wood floor
Do you think it is feasible to reuse the existing wood flooring?
Reuse?
Possible to reuse the exisitng, sure at least some of it could be. But it will take a lot of labor to pull it up with out damage, and even more to remill tongues and grooves if needed.
By the time you cost in that labor it will be far less expensive to rip it out and install new flooring. Particularly if the existing is engineered hardwood.
It looks like an attempt to float an engineered floor that had glue failure at the joints, and then someone tried to patch up.
How is the flooring fastened?
Flooring Fastened
The flooring is 3/4" T&G solid hardwood and I think it must be fastened with nails because it squeaks now when walked on.
That little bit you can see through the crack look more like some sort of laminated flooring.
Since you're taking it up anyway the additional time to remove it carefully could be worthwhile. You may not be able to save but half cost effectively but I'd give it a try anyway.
Fixed Floor
Sounds like a good solution, unfortunately this floor is throughout the whole house.
Based on the photo it appears to be a engineered laminate, snap / click type flooring. These are meant to be floating installations over a vapor barrier. It should never be nailed or glued. Leave a 1/4" gap at the walls and cover with base shoe. do not nail the shoe to the floor. Nail the shoe to the baseboard.
Hey Chuck, Colin responded to another poster that it looked like laminate, but it is actually 3/4" solid. It's just the tongue that we are seeing where the boards are gapped. Good advice though about working with laminates.
there is
Tear it up