Hello to our regular reader, I appreciate you!! And to the person who may have just stumbled across us… or you’re looking at understanding moisture impact on wood flooring in older homes… grab your cuppa, get comfortable, and let’s begin filling our heads with knowledge! (Me included as I haven’t got a clue either… good job, I know people that do ????)
The techs at Floor Sanding Newmarket, are dedicated to helping homeowners across certain areas in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Essex. We want to see you enjoy the beauty & durability of your wood floors for many more years to come.
A project we did a few years ago in Cambridge perfectly shows the common challenges associated with moisture in wood flooring, especially in older properties.
Project Pine Floor in Clare Street
We visited a stunning home on Clare Street in Cambridge featuring an appealing pine floor in the basement. Although the floor had an old finish applied about ten years ago, it was time for a restoration.
The homeowner’s goal… thats simple… they wanted to refresh the wood floor by sanding down the old layers and applying a new robust lacquer finish.
They wanted to enhance the floor’s aesthetic but suppress the typical orange tint of pine! Our recommendation?… a white pigmented lacquer, giving it a fresh, Scandinavian-like appearance.
Initial Observations and Moisture Impact Challenges in Wood Flooring
The job initially seemed quite straightforward… until it wasn’t…
As part of our thorough inspection process, we conducted moisture readings from the basement floor!
To our surprise it revealed higher-than-expected moisture levels. This discovery led us to examine the home’s ventilation system more closely.
The Critical Role of Airbricks
Airbricks have always been a traditional solution for managing moisture content in homes.
In the past, buildings were naturally draughty and a great deal cooler! This allowed moisture to evaporate off walls and escape through natural air movement. However, modern efforts to seal buildings for energy conservation have reduced this natural airflow, necessitating a damp-proof course or membrane in new constructions to prevent moisture ingress.
The Clare Street home had its airbricks at the front! However, multiple layers of paint and the single airbrick at the back, which was overgrown with plants, blocked air movement. The result was restricted air movement, which started trapping moisture in the basement.
Potential Complications of Moisture
If this issue is left, high moisture content can lead to many many issues after a wood flooring restoration service. While the sanding and finishing might initially seem successful, moisture-related problems can soon become apparent.
Your new finish could peel, remain tacky… or even turn white after a few weeks. You might not even immediately notice these issues… but you will! And this will then create premature wear and the eventual need for restoration again.
Our Approach at Floor Sanding Newmarket
Our mission is to ensure that your wood floors not only look beautiful but are also sustainable over the long term. We can’t emphasize more the importance of an understanding of the floor’s environment before starting any restoration work.
My Recommendations for Homeowners
Before you think about restoring your wood floors…
- Inspect the airbricks around your home.
- Get professional moisture readings.
If you find any issues, talk to a damp treatment specialist to improve underfloor air circulation! This is a crucial step before any wood floor restoration work begins. Remember understanding moisture impact on wood flooring in older homes is so important!
Our fabulous team, at Floor Sanding Newmarket, are here to guide you through every step of your floor restoration project. We will make sure you get the most out of your investment. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help preserve the charm and integrity of your wood floors.
