Comments on: Flooring cupping again & again http://www.woodflooringguy.com/2006/03/16/area-of-flooring-cupping-again-and-again/ Ask the Wood Flooring Guy Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:08:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: webmaster http://www.woodflooringguy.com/2006/03/16/area-of-flooring-cupping-again-and-again/#comment-10 webmaster Fri, 17 Mar 2006 16:19:35 +0000 http://www.woodflooringguy.com/2006/03/16/area-of-flooring-cupping-again-and-again/#comment-10 Follow-up Q:<i>I don't know where the "excessive moisture" could be coming from other than the rear door. The kitchen is on the 2nd level with a deck directly outside . The contractor replaced the outside door & frame. He did some extensive caulking all around the door, but I don't think he insulated or put paper around the frame prior to installing the trim, but I have been told that because my joist run vertical to the door, water/cold air could only go as far as the first joist. The first joist is where the door jam is, so how can an entire section of flooring be cupping if nothing can get by the first joist? I have also read that the floor should have been brought into my house at least a few days prior to installation so it could adjust to the moisture conditions. It was brought and installed in the same day.</i> A: It is certainly recommended that the floor be in the house at least 3 days before installation. The sub floor should not have more than a 4% difference in moisture to the floor you are installing on top. However, you say this problem has happened twice, so I would think the issue is another source. I also find it hard to imagine that even if water got past your door, that the damage from that would extend over a long span of flooring. You would have to have a couple of gallons of water come in, I would think. You would know if that was happening pretty fast. If the kitchen is above this floor, I think I would be looking there. Dishwasher, plumbing for the sink. Follow-up Q:I don’t know where the “excessive moisture” could be coming from other than the rear door. The kitchen is on the 2nd level with a deck directly outside . The contractor replaced the outside door & frame. He did some extensive caulking all around the door, but I don’t think he insulated or put paper around the frame prior to installing the trim, but I have been told that because my joist run vertical to the door, water/cold air could only go as far as the first joist. The first joist is where the door jam is, so how can an entire section of flooring be cupping if nothing can get by the first joist? I have also read that the floor should have been brought into my house at least a few days prior to installation so it could adjust to the moisture conditions. It was brought and installed in the same day.

A: It is certainly recommended that the floor be in the house at least 3 days before installation. The sub floor should not have more than a 4% difference in moisture to the floor you are installing on top. However, you say this problem has happened twice, so I would think the issue is another source. I also find it hard to imagine that even if water got past your door, that the damage from that would extend over a long span of flooring. You would have to have a couple of gallons of water come in, I would think. You would know if that was happening pretty fast. If the kitchen is above this floor, I think I would be looking there. Dishwasher, plumbing for the sink.

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