Common Problems

Timber is an organic material. If you respect this, and follow a few simple guidelines when you choose and fit your floor, there is no reason why you should ever have problems.

The most common cause of problems is moisture. No matter how good the product or how well it is installed, the presence or introduction of abnormal moisture will cause the timber to expand, which in turn can cause the floor to cup or blow entirely. Although such damage is often reparable, it is much less disruptive, not to mention cheaper, to prevent it. 

This means making sure that the room where the floor is being installed isn't and won't become damp; that any new concrete is fully dry; that any plasterwork is fully dry; that the heating has been run following any new wetworks to deal with latent moisture and in the case of water underfloor heating systems to check for leaks. For further details, please see Fixing Issues

Bear in mind that although a good fitter should check the subfloor for moisture prior to installation, this is only a snapshot, and is not a substitute for applying the rules noted above.