What To Do When Moisture Causes Floor Problems

Tips from Real-Estate-Agents.com

by Kathy Maynard, reprinted courtesy of ServiceMagic.com

Q: I have recently moved into a custom home (in April) with about 2,000 sq. ft of wood floor. The boards are 3 1/4 inch wide through out the house (ranch style). The floor is cupping and buckling. We have been told the problem was caused by moisture coming from the basement. This is a surprise to us because we have a walk out basement with two doors and a two-door garage under the house. The basement floor was poured on 8 inches of stone and has drains around the outside perimeter. The walls are Superior Wall System. So the basement is quite dry in our opinion. The installer wants us to live with this until we have a heating cycle and see if the floor flattens out. Can you give me any insight as to any other cause of such a problem?

A: Thanks for your inquiry. I consulted with John Fuchs, a Senior Carpet Inspector and Flooring Consultant and current President of the Carpet and Fabricare Institute in Sacramento for the following advice:

"Before any wood floor is to be installed over concrete it must be thoroughly checked with a moisture meter or a moisture salt test. This lets the installer know if the vapor emission is within specifications of the manufacturer's recommendation. If the floor was checked prior to installation and it was within specs, the installer would go ahead and put the floor in."

"Many things can change in the meantime that could cause additional vapor emission to affect the humidity inside the home, including cooking, showers, new latex paint, etc. Items outside the home that could affect vapor emission are over-watering landscape, rain, and excessive runoff."

"For now, I would agree to running the home through a heating cycle to see if the floor lays down on its own. But I would also have it tested with a moisture meter that is intrusive. This means that probes/nails are driven down through the floor to the concrete to test the moisture where the concrete touches the wood. Obviously, this would leave holes in the floor which will need to be repaired or filled."

To find a reputable flooring company or any other type of home improvement specialist in the future, return to our website at: www.servicemagic.com, submit a service request, and let us match you with the ideal service professional in your area.

Good luck with your flooring.

Kathy Maynard

-- Tips courtesy of Service Magic