We purchased an 11 year old home with 5/16" hardwood flooring over a slab. All indications are that it's glued down. Two days after we bought the home we went out of town for two days during which time we shut down the A/C. Coincidentally during those two days it rained extremely hard, the temperatures were high in the upper 80's as was the humidity. No water came into the home.

Upon our return, we found two "bubbles or "humps" in the flooring. One measured approximately 26" by 56" and 1-3/4" high; the second one was some 38" wide by 72" long and also about the same 1-3/4" high. If one were to step on the top of the bubble it would just give in to the floor and raise a bit further out.

Since then, two weeks, our A/C has been going full time, we have an dehumidifier going 24/7 and managed to reduce the smaller "bubble" to normal level, however the larger "bubble" is still completely unresolved. We have HSA Insurance which came with the home and plan to file claim, but we'd like to know what is the best avenue of approach to correct this issue. Oh and by the way, we called the home inspectors who surveyed the Home prior to the purchase and they measured the moisture content of all the wood in the house. The reading I believe was around 5.2 with the bubbles being actually drier than the surrounding flooring. There was also no indication of any water penetration anywhere, at least not that the Thermo camera was able to pick up.

If someone can help us to diagnose the problem and suggest a fix that will cure the problem into the future and allow to leave the premises without fear of a repeat occurrence. I should imagine that we should be able to leave our home without air conditioning if we're not there to enjoy it.

Will someone please came to out aid? Thank you for reading our sad tale.

Sounds like you need a real flooring inspector, not a home inspector. You should be able to find one near you at this site.

www.nicfi.org

Two days?

Rain didn't come into the home? It sounds like some water traveled onto the slab somewhere and somehow from outside influences. Clogged rain spouts pouring down in one spot, water sitting at the edge of the slab are some items I would guess off the top of my head. Water will find it's lowest point eventually (under the flooring) and those areas could fit the bill. That's the only thing I can come up with when two days are mentioned.

Thanks for the feedback but there was no incursion of water, the "bubbles" appeared in the middle of very large rooms, each was separated from the other by at least ten feet and each was twelve or more feet removed from any wall or slab base. What is more puzzling is that the moisture indicator registered the wood at the "bubble" to contain less moisture than any other slats along the rest of the flooring.