We recently installed 3.5" white oak hardwood floors this summer in our main floor rooms, over a full basement.

Soon after installation (within 3 weeks), we observed wrinkling of the finish on the hardwood, in numerous places in the flooring, both at the ends and in the middle/edges of the boards.

You may ask what the moisture content was like? Well, we've had an inspection done by a supplier, and confess to a slightly elevated moisture content in both the main floor and basement. Moderate cupping has been observed, and is receding with the seasonal change.

My question is: is the wrinkling of the finish associated with a manufacturing issue, not the installation environment?

Welcome Twisty .. Can you post a picture of the floor ?

Yes a picture would definitely help. Is this wrinkling effect through-out the floor or in localized areas? What you are describing sounds like a moisture related issue, perhaps over washing of the floor. What is your maintenance process?

Sorry gang, we tried pictures, but the floor is chocolate brown, and they don't show very well.

Picture in your mind a moderately-cupped floor, but with wrinkles in the finish, some short (1") some long (6"-10"), in random areas across the floor (25 locations+)

The floor is washed basically with a mild detergent and warm water, nothing extensive.

We can not understand how the finish could physically separate from the board in this manner, whilst acknowledging that the moisture in the subfloor is the obvious cause of the slight cupping (dehumidifier being installed).

What do you think?

The technical term for wood is sponge .. Stop putting water and detergent on it ..
get yourself some Armstrong hardwood cleaner and spray it onto a clean cloth or one of the pads they sell and clean it once a week ..
Quote from NOFMA
Kiln-dried wood boards which are subjected to moisture only on one side will expand on that side, and will warp by bending away from the moist side. This can be easily demonstrated with a narrow piece of paper; simply moisten one side. the paper will immediately “cup” away from the wet side, creating a convex surface on the wet side and a concave surface on the other side. Similarly, hardwood flooring will cup for one reason and one only -- from gaining or losing moisture on one side faster than on the other.

First and foremost, wood and water don’t mix. No matter
what finish your wood floor has, never pour water on your
floor. While a slightly dampened mop may be used on
polyurethane and other surface finishes in good condition,
even small amounts of water can cause the deterioration
of finishes and warp the underlying wood

Hope this helps .. If you think it is a manufacture related problem you will need a independent inspector to come out to look at the floor ..

http://www.NWFACP.com

Or do a google for NWFACP, to find a certified inspection investigation.

Just to be clear - we use a damp mop, not water on the hardwood itself.

Water is Water .. The problem you are having with your floor is trying to tell you something ..

This is not a maintenance problem. We observed the wrinkles in the finish before we even cleaned the floor after installation.

Any other comments for the wrinkling?

I would suggest hiring a NWFA or NOFMA Inspector ..

I'll say it again... Maybe yelling does it.


It is all guess work from my monitor. I'm not able to see it in person, so you will have to investigate the concern on your own.