Common Problems and Solutions of Solid Wood Flooring – Don't Panic When Encountering Them

Model: | Date:2026-04-29

In the process of using solid wood flooring, some small problems are inevitable – moisture expansion and bulging, tile-like deformation, paint cracking, and walking noise. These problems seem tricky, but in fact, as long as you find the right reason, you can solve them effectively. Today, we sort out the 4 most common problems of solid wood flooring, analyze the reasons and give specific solutions to help you deal with them easily and avoid small problems becoming big troubles.
1. Moisture Expansion and Bulging: Local or multiple pieces of the floor surface bulge upward, and even the paint film cracks. The main reasons are that the flooring absorbs moisture and expands when it encounters water, or insufficient expansion gaps are reserved during installation, making it impossible to expand and contract freely after being damp. Solution: For slight bulging, open windows for ventilation more often to keep indoor air circulation, move the furniture, and let the flooring dry naturally, which can generally recover by itself; for severe bulging, notify professional personnel to pry up the flooring, wipe the surface water, dry it and re-install it. At the same time, check whether the expansion gaps are sufficient and supplement the reserved expansion gaps. Note: Do not dry with hot air, otherwise it will aggravate the flooring deformation.
2. Tile-like Deformation: The two transverse sides of a single flooring tilt upward, showing a tile shape. The reason is that the local part of the flooring is damp, and the expansion and contraction length of the wood below is greater than that above, leading to the tilting of the two corners. Solution: If it is pure solid wood flooring, it cannot be repaired when the deformation is severe, and the new flooring needs to be replaced; if it is multi-layer or three-layer solid wood flooring, the surrounding flooring can be removed, the deformed flooring can be dried, and re-installed after the shape is restored. At the same time, check the source of dampness and do a good job in moisture-proof measures.
3. Paint Cracking: Small cracks appear on the surface paint of the flooring, and the paint film cracks in severe cases. The reasons are that the flooring expands when damp, the elasticity of the paint film cannot match the expansion and contraction of the flooring, or the paint quality is poor, long-term exposure to the sun, and excessive temperature difference. Solution: For a small amount of paint film cracking, use special touch-up paint to repair; for a large cracking area, sand the flooring flat and repaint it; pay attention to avoiding the flooring from being damp and exposed to the sun in daily use, and choose products with good paint quality to reduce the probability of cracking.
4. Walking Noise: A "creaking" friction sound is made when walking on the flooring. The main reasons are uneven ground, insufficient firmness of the wooden keel, or the wooden keel has a high moisture content during installation and deforms after drying, or the installation process is irregular. Solution: First check the flatness of the ground and the firmness of the wooden keel. If the keel is loose, it needs to be re-reinforced; if the ground is uneven, it needs to be re-leveled; if it is an installation process problem, professional personnel need to re-adjust the installation; avoid heavy objects hitting the flooring in daily use to reduce the probability of keel loosening.
Tip: When problems occur with solid wood flooring, try to deal with them in time to avoid the problems from worsening. At the same time, keep the after-sales certificate and contact the brand after-sales service for professional maintenance.