Common Problems

Timber is an organic material. If you do not respect this, your floor will not succeed. If you do, and follow a few simple guidelines when you choose and fit your floor, there is no reason why you should ever have problems.

The biggest threat to a solid wooden floor is moisture.

No matter how good the product or how well it is installed, the presence or introduction of moisture is likely to result in problems. It will cause the timber to expand and this in turn can cause the floor to cup or blow entirely. Although such damage is often reparable, it can mean first lifting the whole floor to deal with the moisture problem. This is an expensive process, so it is well worth taking steps to identify and deal with any moisture upfront.

Bear in mind that ensuring that moisture is not present, or dealing with it if it is, is your responsibility and not that of the supplier of your floor (unless he is specifically contracted to do so). You must ensure that any room into which you are planning to fit a solid wood floor does not have damp, is not subject to damp during the winter months, is not likely to flood and has had all wet work (plastering / concrete) completed for sufficient time for the moisture contained within it to dry out. (see Fixing Issues).