6 Signs of a Bad Hardwood Floor Installation
No, it’s not just you
Check for the six signs of a bad hardwood floor installation to determine if you have a problem.
Some issues are due to poor preparation of the subfloor or not acclimating the wood to your home.
If you notice any of these six signs, document everything and call the installer to inspect the floor.
A new hardwood floor installation is a costly investment, so you’ll want the peace of mind that it’s done correctly. After all, these floors should last 30 to 100 years, depending on the type of wood. If you have any doubts about your new hardwood floors, it’s best to follow up with the installer. Here are six signs of a bad hardwood floor installation to look out for.
Telltale Signs of a Bad Hardwood Floor Installation
You’ve been looking forward to your new hardwood floor, and the workers have come and gone. But as you step back and survey the work, you notice some things that seem off. Here are some signs that point to an issue.
1. Sounds
There are several reasons why a new hardwood floor is squeaking or creaking. One is how humidity affects wood flooring. As moisture levels change throughout the year, the wood can contract or expand, causing your floor to make sounds. However, if you’re noticing squeaking or creaking in the same spot over and over, then it’s potentially an issue with the subfloor. Common culprits include residue that wasn’t cleaned off the subfloor before installation, an uneven subfloor, or joists that are not level. Another possibility is that the planks weren’t properly fastened.
2. Bouncy Floor
A new hardwood floor that’s bouncy is likely due to problems with the subfloor. It’s possible the installer didn’t prep the subfloor properly, meaning there are high and low spots. In some instances, your subfloor can require extra reinforcement with plywood if the flooring is parallel to the floor joists. An inexperienced installer could miss this important step.
3. Visible Glue Residue
Your new floor should be sparkling clean, but if you notice glue spots on the edges of the planks, it’s time to call the installer. They should have cleaned any residue before they left the job, and skipping this step could be a sign that they didn’t do a thorough job on other aspects of the installation.
4. Gaps Between Planks
If an installer fails to properly acclimate the flooring planks before installation, the wood can contract, leaving gaps between the planks.
Acclimating the wood planks requires installers to leave the materials in the room where they will be installed for at least five days, depending on the materials. During this time period, the flooring adjusts to the room's temperature and humidity levels so it won’t expand or contract after installation.
It’s not good enough to simply leave the flooring in the room, however, as you’ll want to maintain 30% to 50% relative humidity and 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit for the wood to acclimate properly. The heat or air conditioning should stay on during and after installation to maintain the proper humidity and temperature.
Any gaps can later lead to other problems due to water damage under floors, including mold and warped planks.
Hardwood or other solid wood floors are not good candidates for wet areas of a home. Liquids can soak into natural wood floors and cause finishes to discolor or fail, particularly at the joints between the boards or near the ends of the boards next to the baseboards.
5. Swelling and Buckling
Seeing swelling and buckling on your new hardwood floor can be alarming, especially since it’s a trip hazard. This happens when an installer fails to use a proper expansion gap. The expansion gap is the space between the edge of the flooring and the drywall.
The gap allows room for the wood to naturally expand or contract according to the moisture levels in the room. For example, if you have ¾-inch hardwood, the expansion gap should also be ¾ inch. Without an expansion gap, the wood has nowhere to go if it expands. The result is swelling or buckling, one of the most common hardwood flooring problems.
Additionally, a high moisture content in a concrete subfloor can cause swelling and buckling. This occurs when the subfloor isn’t cured long enough. The length of time that concrete subfloors should cure for depends on who you ask. Ideally, you should wait 48 to 60 days, but some builders will begin work once the concrete is 75% cured.
Your flooring installer should check the moisture levels before they begin to ensure the area is ready for the flooring, and they might use a moisture barrier.
6. Visually Unpleasant
While we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, you can judge a hardwood floor installation by its appearance. Since each plank is unique with different \grains and color tones, it takes a professional with experience to create a cohesive and beautiful look. On the other hand, an inexperienced installer can produce a floor that’s visually jarring or unpleasant.
You should also pay attention to the floor’s finish. A poor sanding or stain job can ruin the look and longevity of the floor.
How to Know if You Need to Hire a Pro to Fix a Bad Floor Installation
Out of all the issues with a bad flooring installation, the only one that’s possible to fix on your own is cleaning up glue residue that’s left on the planks. For everything else, it’s time to call your local wood floor installer to come back and take a look.
Fixing poorly fastened planks is straightforward, although you’ll want to make sure they don’t overdo it because too many nails can cause cracks in the wood. Other issues can require a serious overhaul. For example, your installer might have to pull up the planks and replace damaged hardwood flooring to fix uneven subfloors or a visually unpleasant design.
Photograph and document everything before calling the installer to examine the issues. If they’re unwilling or unable to provide a solution, it’s time to consider filing a claim with the installer’s bond company.
How to Prevent a Bad Hardwood Flooring Installation
Take these steps to prevent a bad installation:
Only hire reputable, licensed, and bonded installers.
Check the installer’s online reviews and request referrals directly from the installer.
Be present during the installation and have a basic understanding of the steps they should be completing.
Thoroughly read and understand the contract before signing and making a payment.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Bad Hardwood Floor Installation?
You shouldn’t have to pay extra to fix a bad hardwood floor installation if the installer fails to meet their contractual obligations. On the off chance that you don’t have a legal contract in place or if the installer was deceptive about being bonded, you may need to take legal action to try to recoup your losses. In the event you’re on the hook for hardwood floor repair costs, you can expect to pay $3 to $100 per square foot, depending on the issue.
Even though it’s clear to you that there are issues, the installer could disagree with you and insist that nothing is wrong. If you have doubts, you can call a different company to get a second opinion. There’s a chance that someone is willing to give you advice over the phone, in which case you can use that information to help you negotiate with your installer.
Gather all the documentation you have, and if there are any, contact the higher-ups of the business. If they refuse to help, call the contractor’s bond company to ask about next steps.
If the installer is unwilling to fix the problems and you’re not interested in seeking remediation, you could hide a visually unpleasant floor. This will only work if the floor is structurally sound and the only issue you have is the way it looks. The easiest way to do this is to use large area rugs. You can also paint the floor, although that’s a labor-intensive job if you want to go the DIY route.
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