Taking a spin off an old '50's day-time game show, "Queen for a Day", (I'm really telling my age now), I ran across an unusual phenomenon while doing a home inspection on a new property in a high end neighborhood in Spring Hill, TN. The unusual situation was excessive crowning in sections of the hardwood flooring while the majority of the flooring was laying flat. Simply put, "cupping" the normal problem with hardwoods, will come from one condition or reason and one only - from gaining or losing moisture on one side faster than on the other.

As stated earlier, "Cupping" is generally the most common issue with hardwood flooring. That means that the surface of boards will curl upwards - the edges higher than the center of the boards. In layman's terms, this means that the backs of the boards are absorbing water or vapor to an extent expansion has begun. This can be caused by damp or wet crawl spaces, subfloor, or other issues which are causing the backside of the wood to absorb water or moisture and be wetter than the topside. If left unchecked or if excessive, severe damaged can occur to the floor or the wood molding, resulting in replacement of the floor and molding.

"Crowning" can be caused by excessive moisture but typically on the top side of the wood. In other words, the top side of the wood surface has more moisture than the underside. However; the main cause of "crowning" is can be traced back to improper installation. The most common cause is as follows: When the floors are be sanded to be finished, the boards are cupped (edges high) and the high edges of boards are cut flat by the sanding machine. After sanding, the cupped boards will then have abnormally thin edges. So when the boards dry and lay flat, the thin edges will recede leaving the floors permanently crowned.

This is not the only cause for "crowning". "Crowning" can be caused by improper application of adhesives or nail fasteners. But generally speaking, one can trace "crowning" of any type down to improper installation techniques.


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6 Comments on My Floors Must Be a "Queen For a Day" - They're Crowned...

JAN
17
2009
1,500,997 Points 355 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Michael...

I have seen this, but never knew what caused it! Thanks for a very interesting explanation!
6:27am • #1
960,685 Points 21 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Is the only fix to replace?

I would imagine so....

Your friend in Charlottesville Virginia 

Charles McDonald
7:59am • #2
1,242,529 Points 158 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Charles, If the installer sanded the floors while they were cupped, the answer is yes, they will have to be replaced...
8:03am • #3
337,460 Points 9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great info!! Funny - I showed a condo where almost all of the floor boards were curved upwards at the middle.  Even though there were a few relatively flat sections the agent insisted that the curved effect was intentional and in fact an expensive type of flooring.
11:22pm • #4
JAN
18
2009
147,251 Points 2 Featured Posts

The floors in my home have areas like this.  The OSB sub-floor was saturated and we waited and waited for it to dry.  Finally they installed the floor and 3 months later they cupped.

I am pretty sure you could sand this cupping down and not have to remove and reinstall.

Good post
10:17am • #5
208,478 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog

I have wood floors in my bedrooms, and I believe when I bought them, I was told they could be sanded 5 times.  Depending on how much the cupping is raised, I'm not sure it would be possible to even them out.  I don't know for sure, I'm no floor expert. 
11:40am • #6

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Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector - 615.661.0297

Brentwood, TN

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