RenoAtlas

Wood flooring: shrinkage, swelling, cupping and moisture

Relate gaps, swelling or cupping to moisture in wood, subfloor and building before sanding or replacement.

VERT / GREEN

Measure/document relative humidity and season before cosmetic repair.

JAUNE / YELLOW

Wood moves with equilibrium moisture; damp basements, acclimation or water events can cause shrinkage/swelling.

ROUGE / RED

Buckling floor, wet subfloor, active leak or rapid movement: correct source before sanding/screwing/gluing.

Quick triage

What the professional checks

The professional checks wood/subfloor moisture, ventilation, leaks, acclimation, perimeter gaps and reversibility before repair.

Official sources

Checked 2026-08-23