Cupping, Crowning or Buckling; What Does That Mean When Describing My Hardwood Floors

6/29/2018 (Permalink)

A buckled floor cannot be saved as seen in this Winston-Salem home.

Did you know in some cases it is possible to save your hardwood floors once your home or business has experienced water damage?  Wood is a hydroscopic material which means it absorbs moisture from the air relatively slowly compared to other building materials.  If called quickly enough the trained professionals at SERVPRO of Lexington / Thomasville may be able to reverse the damaged caused by your water loss.

Cupping and Crowning

Cupping and crowning of hardwood floors is a result of moisture differences between the top and bottom of the flooring.  Cupping will generally be the first indicator of an abnormal moisture level.  As the bottom and sides of the flooring absorb moisture it will expand causing the edges for the board to bend upward creating a cupped experience.  Cupping is usually not permanent damage and can be dried in most cases.  Crowning is when the moisture from the bottom of the board begins to migrate to the top of the wood causing the flooring to expand on top causing the floor to bow outward. As the wood continues to absorb moisture the expansion causes excessive horizontal pressure and can lead to buckling of the floors.  In most cases, the damage caused by bucking cannot be repaired and will have to be removed and replaced.

As you can see having professionals take care of water damage can save you time as well as money because the technicians of SERVPRO utilize the latest equipment and moisture reading devices to ensure your home or business is dried quickly and thoroughly which can prevent secondary damage.  If you think you have water damage give us a call at 336-224-2565 for your no cost assessment.  With our 24-hour emergency services we are “Faster To Any Disaster.”