It refers to a state when the individual wood planks appear to be higher on the edges as compared to the center of the board forming the shape of a cup.
Cure wood floor cupping.
Cupping can happen even to a flawlessly installed wood floor depending on the conditions of the building and the environment.
However several common situations that are known to cause cupping can be addressed and can even be reversed.
Like cupping wood floor crowning happens because the boards are exposed to a moisture imbalance over an extended period of time.
After the floor had performed well for a year and a half the floor suffered a serious failure within the period of a few weeks and had to be replaced.
Here s how that happens.
Wood floors will cup if installed in damp basements or if the concrete subfloor beneath did not properly cure before installation.
Leaks from plumbing or appliances can also cause wood floors to cup.
This is referred to as dry cupping wood floor cupping and product quality.
Wood floor crowning is the opposite of cupping and happens when the center of the board is higher than the edges.
Unlike solid wood engineered wood floor cupping often occurs when the moisture content of the flooring is lowered.
Crowning can also be caused by previous floor cupping.
When the moisture increases the wood swells and then when it decreases the wood shrinks.
Cupping is a result of the changes in moisture in the room.
Cupping develops gradually often due to inadequate acclimation of the wood before installation.