The reasons for the appearance of gaps between the floorboards
They laid a sheet pile of larch (Extra, thickness 2 cm) along the logs (the distance between the logs is 25 cm) in compliance with all requirements. There were no gaps. The next day, (not everywhere) gaps appeared within 1 mm. Is this normal or did something wrong? Thank.
Ruslan
Expert Answer
Good afternoon, Ruslan!
For your gender, you have chosen the most expensive and high-quality material, so your excitement about the correctness of its installation is quite logical. Unfortunately, the situation you are facing may indicate a small problem.
Such a rapid appearance of cracks can provoke only two factors. The first is errors related to violation of the temperature regime, and such a mistake is most often made by beginners. The fact is that before laying the board must be kept indoors for 2 to 6 hours, otherwise physical phenomena such as condensation of water vapor or thermal expansion can play a trick on the floor.
The second reason (in our opinion, it is more likely) is shrinkage. Unfortunately, the fact that the material you bought belongs to the “Euro groove” class does not mean at all that its humidity is in the range of 8-14% (and this is exactly the value that guarantees the stability of linear dimensions). Yes, “extra” class larch has a uniform structure and color, and there are no knots, cracks, or other wood defects on its surface. However, this does not mean at all that the degree of its humidity is normal.
To determine the moisture content of wood in the absence of a moisture meter, use the following methods:
- by tapping the surface with something solid (for example, a massive key or even with knuckles). Wet wood sounds dull, barely audible. A dry board “rings”, making a sound in a higher range;
- look at the top or bottom plane of the board at a slight angle to the light. Haze indicates insufficient drying, while a shiny surface indicates good quality material;
- run your hand over the inside of the packaging material. The condensate that has appeared there is direct evidence of increased moisture content.
You may not find a sign of high humidity at all. In any case, there is no reason to be upset, because according to the technology, laying of a grooved board is still carried out in two steps. At the first stage, partial fixing of the floor is performed. In this case, before fixing, the boards are pressed together by wedges, and then only every 4-6 board is attached (depending on the width of the material). And only after 6-12 months the floor is closed, eliminating the cracks that have appeared and nailing each board to the lags. It is then that you can eliminate all the shortcomings by getting an even and high-quality coverage.
