Since hardwood floors are designed to last for decades, if not centuries, depending on how well the floors are cared for, it’s evitable that some problems will arise. For example, as wood floors are not impervious to shrinking and expanding depending on the weather, from time to time, gaps may appear in between the boards.
Not only are these gaps unsightly, but they can become a hazard. Years of dirt and debris can end up being trapped in them, letting bacteria fester. In addition, if the gaps become large enough, people’s toes may get stuck in them, making them trip and fall while walking across the floor. For those reasons and more, those gaps in your hardwood floors need to be dealt with.
So, how do you fix those pesky gaps in your beautiful hardwood floors? We have all the answers you need!
How Do Gaps Appear in Hardwood Floors?
Wood is porous. This means that water and other liquids can end up soaking into your hardwood floor planks, which is why you need to wipe up any spills right away. It also means that your floors can end up sucking in any humidity in the air, especially if you live in a very humid climate, like those in the Southeast.
Not only does this liquid end up in your floorboards, but the temperatures themselves can make those planks expand and contract. In the summer, when the weather is warm and humid, the planks expand ever so slightly. In the winter, the planks contract in size due to the cold. You usually won’t notice these tiny movements until you see the damage that they cause.
Over the years, all of this expanding and contracting can lead to cracks in the boards themselves gaps in between the boards. Look at it this way, when two boards expand and contract at different rates, spaces are going to end up appearing in between them. These gaps go all of the way down to the subfloor, creating quite a problem for people who want a pristine-looking floor.
On top of this, hardwood floors are prone to drying out over the decades, even those in humid locations. The wood will lose its moisture content, especially if it’s subjected to plenty of heat from below, causing the boards to shrink down in size, causing gaps to form between them.
Why Those Gaps Need To Be Fixed
Gaps in your hardwood floor require your immediate attention, so it’s good to be proactive at the first sign of trouble.
The Dangers Gaps Can Bring
There are many reasons why you need to take care of the gaps between your hardwood floor planks.
Some of these include:
- They Are a Tripping Hazard: There’s nothing quite like getting part of your foot caught between the planks to send you sprawling onto the floor. Not only can you end up with broken bones or a sprained wrist or ankle, but landing on the hard floor and hitting your head may give you a concussion. Accidents happen, but these kinds are definitely avoidable.
- They Harbor Germs: Any gaps or grooves between the boards can end up becoming a breeding ground for bacteria. Over time, if those spaces aren’t properly cleaned out, they may even begin growing fungus as well. All of these things are very bad for your health, especially when you breathe them in.
- They Look a Little Sad: Let’s be honest — gaps in between your floorboards just look bad. They make the floor look unfinished and abandoned. These spaces can also make the flooring appear old (which it is) but in a bad way, not a “cool vintage house” kind of way.
- They Hurt Your Resale Value: If you plan on selling your home anytime soon, you’ll need to fill in the gaps between your hardwood floor planks. Not only will any new buyers insist on it, but the gaps themselves may hurt your home’s resale value. Since hardwood floors usually add value, this is quite a problem.
There are many other reasons behind repairing these gaps, from “You simply don’t like the way they look” to “Your dog keeps digging at them.” No matter the reason, gaps need to be dealt with as soon as possible.
So, let’s get started!
Why You May Not Need a New Floor
Although one good solution to having gaps between your hardwood floorboards is to rip them out and have a new floor installed, this isn’t always the best way to go. Not only can new hardwood floors be expensive, but if you only have a board or two with a gapping problem, the issue isn’t extreme enough to justify a whole new floor.
Plus, old hardwood floors have plenty of character that new ones don’t. Over time, the wear and tear on the boards from daily use can lead to small scuffs and scratches, all of which don’t cause a problem but add to the floor’s patina. Having a new floor installed can ruin that cool, vintage wood floor feeling.
Repairing the Gaps
Now that you know why your hardwood floor planks have gaps in between them, as well as why you may not want to have a brand new floor installed, it’s time to learn how to fill in those gaps. You have several options, so weigh them carefully to see which will work best for your flooring.
Gather Your Tools
As usual, start by gathering all of your tools. You’ll need to have everything on hand, just in case you need it. After all, there’s nothing worse than having to stop your project in the middle of everything in order to find the tools that you need. If you want to fill in these gaps frustration-free, then put all of your tools in one place first.
So, let’s start gathering! In order to fill in the gaps in between your hardwood floor planks, you’ll need:
- a bucket
- a mop
- warm water
- cleaning solution
- a flathead screwdriver
- a microfiber cloth
- wood putty (that matches your floor)
- a putty knife
- a few pieces of rope or twine
- wood stain (to match your floors)
- extra pieces of flooring
- a circular saw
- glue
- a pencil
- a measuring tape
Cleaning the Floor
You want to start fresh, so begin by cleaning the floor. Not only do you want the area that you’ll be repairing to be nice and clean in order to help your repair methods stick, but you also want to clean out the gaps that you’ll be filling.
Go into the gap with a flathead screwdriver and pull out everything that resides in between your planks. You may be removing old bits of glue, dirt and debris, random gunk, or other unpleasant stuff. Once you’re done, wash the main part of the wood planks with the mop, bucket, water, and cleaning solution.
Then, allow it all to dry, using a microfiber cloth to wipe up the excess.
Installing Rope or Twine
In some cases, rope or twine may do the trick. Dye the rope or twine the same color as your floorboards using wood stain. Once they dry, cut them down to size lengthwise and apply a thin layer of glue to the gap between the planks. Place the rope or twine into the gap, pressing down to not only make it adhere to the glue and push it fully into the gap.
- Pro Note: A word of caution for all our animal lovers. It’s important to note that this method won’t work well if you have cats, as they’ll try to pull up the twine or rope, thinking that it’s a toy.
Using Extra Wood Planks
If your gaps between boards are very wide or are at the short end of the boards instead of the longer sides, then using extra wood planks will solve the problem. Measure the gaps and cut the wood down to size using your circular saw. Then, place a thin layer of glue in the gap and hammer the wooden board into place.
If necessary, you may need to stain the new floorboards beforehand, although it can be done after it’s installed as well, as long as you’re careful. Waiting until the repairs are done is the best way to get a good match and make the repair look seamless.
Filling the Gaps with Putty
Wood putty can also do the trick, especially if you have a very small gap to fill. You obviously want to choose putty that matches your flooring and apply it to the gap with a putty knife, filling in the space a little at a time. Scrape away any excess putty from around the gap, make sure that it’s level with the rest of the floor, and allow it to dry thoroughly.
And voila!
Mind the Gap
Hardwood floors are designed to last for a very long time, which makes caring for them extremely important. To keep them looking as gorgeous as the day you installed them, you’ll need to fill in any gaps that appear between the planks as soon as you spot them.
Of course, if you need additional tools or extra boards, check out our available supply at Hardwood Bargains. We have everything you need to fix those pesky gaps and restore your hardwood’s natural beauty!
Sources:
How to Repair Gaps Between Floorboards | The Spruce
