We just had 5" wide Santos Mahogany installed throughout the first floor, laid on an angle. It looks great... until you look closely. In several areas there are gaps. Wide enough to see the (wood) subfloor. The wood sat in the house for about 10 days before they installed it - but in boxes in a 3 ft tall stack. Some of the gaps run up and down the length of the board, and some are only at one end but not the other. The installer put some wood putty in some areas, but there are many others where the gaps are empty. It's driving me crazy. Also, some of the putty they put in is cracking and falling out.

What is the limit of acceptable gaps between boards? If these gaps are within the tolerance, amd I better off leaving them alone or adding wood putty? If the gaps are "unacceptable", what are the options? (I think they are unaccepable, but I also spent so my $ I want this to be perfect so I want to be reasonable too.)

Thanks in advance -

Is this a prefinished wood??

Yes. It's prefinished.

Sounds like bad milling to me. Some of the cheaper brands of wood are milled over seas where the QC isn't as stringent. Post some pics so we can see what you have.

Anyone do moisture tests of the wood and underlayment?

No - no moisture tests yet. Still just wondering if I'm being too picky or if I need to raise this as an issue.

Can't find camera (house is a zoo between construction and kids home from school.) There are 2 spots with Quarter width gaps that run about 8" long, 2 nickle gaps each about 5" long, and a few dime gaps several inches long. I can't imagine the quarter size gap is OK, but are the rest reasonable (and I'm being too picky) or is it as bad as I think it is?

Whether the gaps are a result of a milling issue, really doesnt matter. The size gaps your mentioning IMO should not have been installed, let alone left that way. I'm a real nut when it comes to gaps, I can't leave any size gap unattended to, period. Filling minor imperfections is acceptable, with the appropriate filler, ( it shouldn't "crack & fall out" ). It doesn't sound to me that your unreasonable, with the size gaps your talking about.

On a positive note, there is a filler available that I highly recommend. Yes it will even hide the size gaps your mentioning, and perform long term. They have an amaizing amount of colors, so you can dial the color in. OR I should say your installers can, ( after they remove their "putty" ).

http://colorriteinc.com

( If you dont have a local distributor...Color Rite suggests matching your color on a Behr chart at HD or Lowes ( I forget which ), and they will send you the matching color ).

A quarter inch gap seems extreme. Has this been noticable since installation or has it occurred later?

Dennis, It's the width of a U.S. Quarter", Not a quarter inch.

Are you sure its a U.S. Quarter and not a Canadian Quarter. Since ours isnt worth as much it might not be as big a gap.

Good point, I shouldn't assume it's U.S. . maybe it's a Mexican quarter, and even a smaller gap!

OK funny guys! It's a US Quarter... and a big gap!

When the poster said he could see the subfloor, I just assumed.......AHHHm, guess he meant that he could see the raw edge of the tongue. But, I am still curious if these were from installation date or occurred later.

The gaps have been there "About" from installation. The wood went in at the end of Dec and I noticed some gaps immediately. I can't say if the others have always been there or if they've developed over the past 6 weeks. If you walked into the house you wouldn't notice most of the gaps - I noticed them because finally got on my knees and cleaned the floor!

Is that my answer? (Gaps you don't notice when standing aren't a problem, and I need to get a broom. )

Yes the viewing point of a floor is from a standing position. there is no such thing as perfection, if you scrutinize anything close enough you will find problems. Not that I am saying you don't have a issue with the larger gaps but most of the smaller ones are most likely acceptable. I have gaps in my own floor.