New Wood Floor Keeps Expanding, Help! Please!

francohoops

We laid a wooden floor in our new house 2 months ago. The problem is that the wood is still expanding and we've had to remove some of the boards on two separate occasions, the most recent being this week. We are concerned that this will keep re-occuring.

What would be the likely cause of this? I understand that wood expands and contracts based on heat and humidity, but the amount it has expanded seems excessive. We can't keep chopping off wood, so far we've taken 1-2 inches off.

How would we solve this?

It was expensive untreated wood which we bought from Wickes.

Would ventiliation be an issue? Someone has suggested that putting an air brick in the outside wall under the floor level could solve the problem. I don't want to go ahead and do this if it won't address the problem.

I'd be grateful for any thoughts or suggestions that any of you may have.

Thanks
F

southcoastrgi

what kind of wood floor, laminate ? what is it laid on ?

francohoops

pure oak wood floor
laid on the original floorboards. We also put underlay down,
Thanks
F

Gloomendoom

How long did you let the boards acclimatise in your house before you laid them?

southcoastrgi

you should have a vapour barrier to prevent moisture

fitting instructions here

francohoops

To be honest we didn't give them enough time to aclimitise. We laid them the day after we bought them. I know that was a mistake, but is it too late to correct. Will we be able to save our floor?

francohoops

So we need to take the floor up to lay the vapour barrier? Will that cure the problem?

francohoops

Hi
Does anyone else have any suggestions to fix this problem?
Thanks for your help
F

Russe11

"1-2 inches off" ! are you sure the wood is not still growing?

Leif

Russe11 wrote: »

"1-2 inches off" ! are you sure the wood is not still growing?

I think the house is shrinking.

Russe11

I think what could help is if the OP could take a photo of the issue.