3 Ways to Fix Those Warped Wood Floors

There are few things more annoying than walking across your hardwood floor, in a hurry to get to another room in the house--but suddenly, you stumble. What caused the trip? Your way was absolutely clear!

That's when it dawns on you that your floor is the culprit. Upon closer inspection, you can see the gentle rise in floorboards that are supposed to be perfectly flat. Sure enough, those boards are warped.

Now what?

Fixing Warped Wood Floors

The procedure for fixing a warped wood floor depends on the size of the problem. Smaller issues can probably be fixed with a few handy tricks, but larger problems might require the services of a professional flooring contractor.

First, figure out the character of your warp. Is it a tiny bump that needs to be smoothed out or a larger problem that requires some ingenuity and muscle to overcome?

• Small Warps. If you notice a tiny warp in the wood as you walk across it, the fix is probably easy. If the wood is still rather pliable, try wetting the area and then placing a heavy object, such as a cinderblock, on top of the warp. Check it in a few days to make certain it's gone. (Take care not to stub your toe on the cinderblock in the meantime!) If it is still there or has gotten worse, you have just entered the realm of the large warp.
• Large Warps. If the warped area is larger than a cinderblock can handle, you have to do a replacement job. Take up the warped wood and replace it with flooring of the same exact size and length. Secure the wood boards, then paint or stain as necessary to achieve a uniform look.
• Giant Warps. These are the monster warps that seem to go on forever, and they won't go away without major intervention. Excessive age, significant water damage, or years of neglect could all cause the kind of warps that only a professional contractor could love. Fixing this problem involves ripping out the entire floor and replacing it. On the bright side, you get a brand-new floor!

Your Wood Floors Look New Again!

You've fixed the warp. Now what? Don't stop there! Make certain you know the source of the leak or weakness that caused the problem, and then figure out how to fix it. A professional flooring contractor can help you pinpoint and correct the issue, so you never trip over your own floors again.