1、 First determine the type of gap
a. Normal expansion joint (no need to repair)
-Location: Floor against wall, door strip, with 8-12mm expansion joint reserved on the wall edge
-Phenomenon: Fixed existence, tightly connected between boards, with only gaps left on the walls, which is a design requirement to prevent arching.
b. Dry shrinkage gap (most common, caused by low environmental humidity)
-Phenomenon: Fine seams appear between the boards, evenly distributed, and often appear in the dry seasons of autumn and winter; The gap is generally 0.2-0.5mm; it will slightly shrink after the humidity rises.
-Cause: Dry indoor air causes wood to shrink due to dehydration; There are many small pieces of herringbone puzzle blocks, and the shrinkage gaps will be more obvious.
c. Construction defects and gaps (requiring repair)
-Phenomenon: The width of the gaps varies, with locally large gaps exceeding 0.8mm and occasional openings in certain areas; Part of the floor has a height difference and is loose, making a noise when stepping on it.
-Cause: uneven ground, not tightened during installation, lock buckle not in place, large floor cutting error, and inadequate moisture prevention.
d. Cracking/large cracks after moisture expansion (severe)
-Phenomenon: Local floor bulges, turns black, and becomes moldy, with gaps varying in size; Most of them are due to the return of moisture and soaking in water on the ground.
2、 Handling methods based on different situations
Fine dry shrinkage joint (0.2-0.5mm, no bulging or mold)
a. Prioritize adjusting environmental humidity: maintain indoor humidity at 40%~60% RH, humidify with a humidifier, do not dry or wet suddenly; Many fine seams will automatically shrink after humidification.
b. Appearance repair: Fill with the same color wood wax oil sealant/wood floor sealant.
Local large gap>0.8mm, loose lock buckle, loose floor
a. If the expansion joint on the wall is too small, it will limit the expansion of the floor. Remove the skirting board, repair the expansion allowance on the wall, tighten the floor again, and reset the lock buckle.
b. A small amount of board gaps are too large: remove some of the herringbone splicing boards, re cut, adjust the seams, and reinstall them; The difficulty of disassembling and assembling herringbone tiles is higher than that of ordinary flooring, so try to find the original installation master as much as possible.
Gap caused by moisture+blackening/bulging
a. Step 1: Cut off the water source, dry the ground thoroughly (which may take several weeks), and check the moisture content of the ground.
b. Moldy and deformed flooring: The deformed panels cannot be restored and can only be replaced with damaged panels; Not replacing but only repairing the seams will repeatedly cause problems.
3、 Key points for avoiding pitfalls in herringbone spelling (emphasis)
a. The herringbone joint is made up of short diagonal strips, and the expansion and contraction of a single board will be concentrated at the joint seam. Do not measure the gap with the standard of ordinary straight laid flooring.
b. It is strictly prohibited to fill the board joints with glass glue to block expansion and contraction, as it is prone to arching in spring and summer.
c. Acceptance criteria reference: The gap between individual panels is ≤ 0.3mm; local individual gaps are ≤ 0.5mm and discontinuous, which is within the acceptable range of the national standard; Multiple consecutive areas>0.8mm are considered unqualified.
d. Floor heating environment herringbone spelling: The temperature should be raised slowly, and high-temperature baking is prohibited. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity are the top cause of gaps.
4、 Daily prevention to reduce gaps and prevent further enlargement
-Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and direct heating of the floor;
-Use a slightly damp mop for mopping, and it is strictly prohibited to rinse with a large amount of water;
-Monitor indoor humidity during seasonal changes and avoid keeping it below 40% for extended periods;
-Furniture foot pads and soft cushions should be used to prevent local stress from pulling, tearing, or joining seams.
