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
Related path
Continue with the right tools
These links connect this page to the next useful checks and decisions without repeating the full content.
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