Hardwood Floors December 2019/January 2020

CHECK YOUR KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES

1. Which term best describes what happens when pieces of the flooring are no longer in contact with the substrate?

A. Peeling B. Bubbles C. Buckling D. Shrinking

2. What is the difference between cupping and buckling? A. Cupping in flooring can always be repaired, while buckling almost always requires flooring replacement B. Cupping is primarily caused from too dry conditions, while buckling is primarily caused from too wet conditions C. Buckling is primarily caused from too dry conditions, while cupping results primarily from too wet conditions D. Cupping results from slow moisture attrition from underneath, while buckling indicates a fast, massive amount of moisture attrition 3. Which defines crowning? A. Pieces of the flooring are no longer in contact with the subfloor B. A seasonal separation between individual boards occurs naturally C. The center of the piece of flooring (across its width) is lower, and the edges are higher D. The center of the piece of flooring (across its width) is higher, and the edges are lower 4. It is common for gaps or separations to appear throughout a wood floor from one season to the next.

HOW DID YOU DO? See suggested NWFA University

learning path on page 80. Answer key is on page 97.

A. True B. False

5. Which is not a characteristic of abnormal gaps in solid wood flooring? A. They are the width of a dime B. They were present when the floor was installed C. Do not close during seasonal changes D. Improper nailing schedule

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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