10/29/2026
Heat's coming on. Don't be surprised if you see thin gaps between your hardwood boards over the next few months.
Real wood moves with the humidity. Around here, summers off the Chesapeake are muggy and the boards swell a little. Once the furnace runs all winter, the air dries out, the boards shrink, and small gaps open up. In most homes they close back up on their own in the spring.
A few things that help:
• Keep indoor humidity steady. A humidifier helps, and your flooring's care guide lists the range the manufacturer recommends.
• Don't fill seasonal gaps. Filler gets squeezed out when the boards swell back up.
• If gaps stay open all year, or the boards start cupping or lifting, that's worth having someone look at.
It's also why we drop new hardwood off a few days before we install it, so it can get used to your house first.
Weighing solid vs. engineered hardwood for a home near the water? We wrote up the differences here: https://chappysflooring.com/solid-vs-engineered-hardwood-annapolis-md/
Questions about your floors? We're happy to come out for a free in-home estimate: (410) 417-8556.
