Warped flooring is a major problem for many homeowners. First, it is typically caused by water damage, and can be indicative of a major leak, but it can also be caused by excessive wear, poor original materials or even chance. Warped floors are a bit of a hazard around the house and should be fixed as soon as possible. Let’s go over a few easy ways that you can get this job done.

Small Warps

These are tiny little warps that are usually barely noticeable. Commonly, if you found a leak in time, or are paying attention, you can spot this type of warp while it is still small and easy to fix. If the average area is less than six inches in diameter, and the boards affected are not numerous, you can try a very easy fix.

Get a cinderblock, or something similar that is very heavy. Wet the area where the warping occurred slightly and then place your heavy object over the warp. Give it a few days and check to see if the warp is gone. If you are using something heavy enough and the floor is still pliable, chances are your warp will be gone. This is a great fix if you are on a budget.

Medium to Large Warps

This is a little more serious and may require spot fixing. In a perfect world, only one flooring board will be warped, but often, it will usually effect more than one. Locate the area where the warping occurred and if necessary, fix the problem that caused it in the first place. Locate replacement boards that are the exact size and length of your existing flooring.

Take up the existing boards and if necessary, fix any underlying problems that may have been caused by a water leak. Get your replacement boards and lay them down, lining them up carefully. Using the appropriate sized screws, attach them to the floor joists one by one until the area has been completely fixed. You may need to either paint or stain them to match your other flooring.

Massive Warps

This is a serious issue, and may require the help of a professional. Massive warping is usually caused either by extreme neglect, bad water damage or age. This will typically require replacing the entire floor, especially if numerous boards are affected. Locate any boards that may be saved, but check them for structural integrity. It is best to err on the side of caution when dealing with massive floor warps since it may be an indication that the wood is rotten.

Rip out the flooring. If you are replacing the entire floor, you have some options as to what materials you will use for the replacement, either new wooden floors, or a subfloor with carpeting. Fix any underlying damage and then install your new flooring option. Again, you may need to either paint or stain it to match, depending on how much of the original floor you were able to keep.

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Fix, Flooring, Handy Man, Wood Floors

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budget, cinderblock, diameter, exact size, few days, floor joists, Flooring, job, original materials, paying attention, perfect world, replacement boards, screws, six inches, warp, water damage, water leak