Cupping Vs. Crowning: What Causes Them Both?

By Author: Jason Darger
Total Articles: 25
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It’s crucial to be able to quickly identify and effectively fix common issues with hardwood floors. The weather and the humidity in your home both have an impact on the amount of flooring contraction during the winter. Wood floors and engineered hardwood floors can warp and become damaged as a result of moisture or changes in humidity. These effects are referred to as “cupping,” “crowning,” “buckling,” and “peaking.” If you notice that the edges of the planks are higher than the centers, your wood floor is cupping. There will be a concave appearance to each plank.

On the other hand, the center of the board is higher than the edges when there is crowning. Wood that is raised in the middle and slopes down on the planks’ long edges is referred to as crowning. You can remove obstinate flooring cupping and crowning with a little knowledge of what causes it. Continue reading and let’s get going.

Common Causes of Wood Cupping

You must be aware of the typical causes of floor cupping if you want to solve the issue. Fibers make up wood, and water takes up space when it absorbs it. Cupping happens ...
... when the subfloor’s moisture content—the moisture beneath your floors—is significantly higher than the moisture above. There is hope for restoring your floor to normal if you catch cupping early and can address the moisture problem, which can be caused by anything from pipe leaks to a still-wet concrete slab to improper HVAC usage.

Common Causes of Wood Crowning

A common issue that arises as a direct result of cupping is crowning. Crowning occurs when a plank’s middle or top swells up above the rest of the regular floor level while the plank’s edges contract inward toward the bottom. In the latter instance, a cupped floor was flattened and the edges of the plank were sanded down below the center after the moisture levels had returned to a tolerable level. Crowning may also develop unintentionally as a result of sanding down cupped planks before letting them completely dry.

How to fix cupping and crowning?

With time and numerous seasonal changes, this cupping will gradually lessen but might not completely disappear. Never try to fix a cupped floor until all moisture sources have been found and taken care of. Maintain the environment in accordance with the demands of the flooring manufacturer. Re-sanding and refinishing the flooring is the most popular repair option. On the other hand, if excessive humidity caused the issue, crowning floors may need to be repaired by running a dehumidifier in the space. Ventilation of the floor’s underside may also be required.

Cupping and crowning are inevitable flooring problems but they can definitely be solved through some easy steps. Your flooring may be subject to them but it shouldn’t last long. For high-quality flooring in Utah, there’s one name you can trust. Utah Flooring & Design is a trusted flooring company in Utah with a full range of services. baseboards, carpet, hardwood, tile, laminate, and much more. With world-class flooring services, we’ve been gaining the trust of homeowners for years Whether you are eyeing residential or commercial flooring installation or replacement, you can expect to receive fair and honest estimates. Utah Flooring and Design is committed to both excellent customer service and the execution of flooring work. Call Utah Flooring and Design at (801) 895-2115 and receive your on-site estimate today, all for FREE.

I'm a CEO at Utah Flooring & Design, We offer full range of services. Whether you are considering floor repair, floor installation, or floor maintenance services.