Tulsa, OK
Buckled Hardwood Floor Repair in Tulsa, OK
Buckling is the most serious way hardwood reacts to water. Boards swell so much that they push against each other and lift off the subfloor, sometimes by several inches. It's a trip hazard and a sign there is a lot of water underneath. We make the area safe, remove what can't be saved and dry what's below.
What Buckling Means
Hardwood boards expand when they absorb water. With a little water, they cup. With a lot, they run out of room, push against walls and each other, and pop up off the floor. Buckling usually means the boards and the subfloor both took on significant water.
Why Buckled Boards Rarely Lie Flat Again
Once boards have lifted, the fasteners or glue holding them down have usually let go, and the wood itself has often bent out of shape. Even after drying, most buckled boards don't sit flat again. In most cases the honest answer is to remove the buckled section and dry the subfloor so new boards can go in.
Safety First
Keep people and pets away from lifted boards; edges can catch feet.
Don't try to hammer or stand boards back down.
Keep away from outlets or cords near wet areas.
If a large area has lifted, avoid that room until it's checked.
How We Handle a Buckled Floor
Confirm the water source is stopped.
Map moisture across the buckled area and the floor around it.
Remove the buckled boards and any others the readings show can't be saved.
Dry the subfloor and check it for damage.
Take final readings so new boards can be installed safely.
More on this step: tear-out and dry-out.
Next Step: New Boards
After drying, a hardwood flooring contractor installs new boards and refinishes them to match. We share the final readings so they know the subfloor is ready.
Buckled Floor FAQs
Can buckled hardwood be pressed back down?
Rarely. Most buckled boards are bent and have pulled loose from the subfloor, so they won't sit flat even after drying.
Is it safe to walk on a buckled floor?
Lifted boards are a trip hazard. Keep traffic away from the area until it's been checked.
Will the whole floor need to come out?
Not always. We remove the buckled section and any boards the readings show are too wet to save.
Do you install the new boards?
No. We remove damaged boards and dry the subfloor. A flooring contractor installs and finishes the new boards.
Related Hardwood Services
Also serving Broken Arrow, Owasso, Jenks, Bixby and more areas.
Boards Lifting? Call Now
Buckling means there's a lot of water below. The faster it's dried, the less subfloor damage.
ZIP Codes We Serve in Tulsa, OK
We handle buckled hardwood floors in every one of these Tulsa ZIP codes:
Also serving Broken Arrow, Owasso, Jenks, Bixby, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Glenpool, Claremore and Coweta.