How to fix gap in engineered timber floor boards?

[RonJ]

Have an engineered timber floor that’s about 5 years old and notice a gap is increasing between some of the boards. Any simple fix? 

 

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @RonJ,

Considering the gap is opening up, and I can see some floating floor trim around the edge of the room, I believe you have a floating floor.

How far away from a parallel wall is the gap in your flooring?

With a repair like this on a floating floor, generally, you would have to start at the nearest parallel wall and lever the floorboards away from that wall to shift them over to close up the gap.

This would likely involve removing a skirting board or trim so you can access the long side of the board closest to the wall.

You should then be able to use a prybar, with some scrap timber against the wall, to lever the floorboard away from the wall. This could require a fair bit of force, depending on how far from the wall this gap is. You can wrap the head of the prybar with a cloth or a few layers of tape to help protect the edge of your floorboards.

Let me know what you think and if you have questions or concerns with the solution I've proposed, please let me know so we can work towards a solution that will work for you.

Jacob

[RonJ]

Hi Jacob

thanks for your reply and suggestions. Yes it’s a floating floor with some sort of engineered timber. The nearest parallel “wall” is a kitchen cabinet about 3 meters away on one side and maybe 5 metres to a wall in the other direction. There’s a few angles  from the edge of the kitchen cabinets. The first photo shows how the plank has been cut around a wall, the second and third photos show the other edge next to a cabinet

 

I notice a few other areas across the rooms that have gaps starting although not as big.
appreciate your advice 

 

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @RonJ,

I have seen some examples online of gaps in floating floors being fixed by using a small block of framing timber, such as a 70x35, sticking some high-quality double-sided tape, such as this Scotch-Mount Extreme Double-Sided Mounting Tape, to the block, then sticking the block to the floor. Once the block is in place, you can hit the end of it with a hammer to close up the gap. When the gap is closed, pull the tape off the floorboard and clean up any adhesive residue with adhesive remover or eucalyptus oil.

In most of these examples, the gap is on the short side rather than the longer tongue-and-groove side of the flooring, but it could be worth a try before moving on to a more disruptive fix.

Allow me to tag @Nailbag, @Noyade and @Dave-1 to see if they have any ideas that would be easier than starting from a wall and working across.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[Nailbag]

Hi @RonJ 

as @JacobZ mentioned there is no easy fix here unfortunately. Thinner floating board products have very shallow connections that can easily seperate if the floor isn't prepared exactly as they are very unforgiving. Same goes if there hasn't been an expansion gap on some ends. And the connecting edges can easily crack/split during installation unbeknown and later can cause issues like these. 

End to end gaps can sometimes be fixed if not far from the wall by removing the skirting and prying the board end. But I don't have a proper fix when on the edges. that doesn't require pulling all the boards up, which also isn't practical.

What I have done a few times that appear to have prevented further separation with a cosmetic finish is this;

1.Use quality painters tape all the edges of the separated board sections.

2.Apply a thin bead of high-strength wood glue and use a spatula to press it in. I then used a hair dryer on low with no heat to push the glue in as far as possible. Then repeat if possible. 

3. Use a damp cloth along the gap to remove the top 2mm or so of glue and allow to dry.

4. Fill the gap with a best possible match of the board colour with a timber floor gap filler.

5. Wipe the excess and remove the tape.

It's an easy affordable DIY solution, worth a try and you have nothing to loose if its unsuccessful. If we can stop the boards from separating further, then it will prevent others from potentially doing the same.

[Noyade]

I like @Nailbag's approach @RonJ .

"maybe 5 metres to a wall in the other direction"

I have only limited experience with floating floor and we did have gap issues - but I can't imagine you can pry a board five metres away from the wall to reduce a lengthwise gap. I've managed to reduce edge gaps, but not their lengths.

But I have been proven wrong on many occasions.

Good luck.

Cheers.

[Dave-1]

Good Afternoon @RonJ 

I would actually be tempted to leave it a while longer unless its bugging you a lot. There is expansion of floating floorboards that happens so it may close when the weather changes. Good news is it does not appear to have buckled or lifted.

I really liek @JacobZ's idea with the double sided tape plus a piece oif timber to try to close up the gaps, I see that one as the least intrusive especially considering its 5m from an edge 😕

Dave

[Nailbag]

Hi @RonJ 

with all due respect to my braintrust colleague, I do know the boards will not reconnect with changes in weather etc. Once separated they stay seperated.

Nailbag

[Noyade]

I had some success with the edges years ago when they were new, @Nailbag 

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/t5/Kitchen/Closing-the-Gap-between-floorboards/m-p/21857#M540

But seven years on - the care factor is gone - and so has my balance.

[RonJ]

Hi

i might give that a shot. I like the point that it may stop others from moving. Not sure about getting the colour match…. It’s a honey coloured spotted gum engineered timber. 
thanks for everyone who provided advice 

cheers