Kahrs Hardwood Floor – Warped Boards
Q: I am in the process of installing hardwood floor (Kahrs Brazilian Cherry) in our home, and some of the boards are significantly warped out of the box. I called Kahrs technical support line here in the US and asked what is considered tolerable when it comes to the straightness of hardwood floor boards, but he didnʼt want to give me any detailed information. I mentioned that one of the boards is so significantly warped that I can put my hand underneath it, and I measured the distance from the middle to the ground to be approximately 1 inch. When asked if this number would be acceptable, the customer representative mentioned that it is, which of course left me puzzled as I consider 1 inch unacceptable.
I was wondering if there are hard numbers above which a board is considered warped and defect. I have attached some pictures which illustrate the situation.
Thanks so much for your help,
Gilbert
A: Typically when boards are bowed as much as the ones you have received, replacements are in order from the retailer who sold them. Typically this comes with a claims process of some form. This being said, boards in similar conditions have been installed in the past successfully and there are some ways to relieve this kind of bowing.
Any established numbers would have to come directly from the manufacturer of the product, as it is their duty to determine what is and is not within tolerances. If a member of that company who has proper authorization says it is within tolerance, then I would get some documentation just to ensure your warranty remains intact.
One method suggested by Gene D., iFLOOR’s commercial contract manager, for repairing a bow like this involves a simple hand-held clothing steam-iron and a towel. Wrap the towel around the iron, then dial up the steam and begin ironing out the board from the center, working outward. The heat will help to relieve the board’s bowing. This is much like the process used to form wood for ships or furniture, a careful application of heat and steam will help to form the board.
Now if this process is a bit too slow for your liking, then install the board and glue, but once the board is in place, before the adhesive cures, use a sand bag to weight down the board so that the adhesive cures with the board in a flat position, locking it in. You can make your own sand bags if you want smaller bags that are a bit more form fitting for the board.
Personally I would first contact the retailer you purchased the flooring from and request replacements. If the retailer can confirm these boards are within tolerance, and provide documentation, then either install them and bag the boards down or do the repair method using an iron before installing.