Hello-

I have a hickory hardwood floor that was professionally installed about five years ago. The wood sat in my house for approximately one month prior to installation. The installation is in two adjoining rooms, dining room and living room, and are above an unfinished basement.

My issue: soon after the installation we started to experience the first signs of wood expansion along one outer wall only. The installer returned and created more room behind the molding by cutting out some of the drywall that ran all the way to the subfloor. Even after this "fix" we still experience this contraction and expansion along one wall only, coming out from the wall maybe a foot or so. In the dry months there are big gaps between the boards and in humid months the boards are pushing against each other and feel kind of soft underfoot.

My question: would insulating and closing in the basement "ceiling" below this area be a help for my situation? The basement isn't what I would call particularly damp but I was thinking that doing this couldn't hurt.

Sorry to be so long winded but I figured the more info the better.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Ray

I don't think insulating a ceiling will help. Normally, you need a solid moisture barrier that leaves moisture no way to get through . Not sure how that would be done in your case. Instead , have the RH checked in your home and maybe use a de humidifier down stairs in the wet months.
One other thing, if you have a friend that is good with carpentry, have him check to see if you are getting water in under the sill plate

Advanced Crawlspace Ventilation (This may apply to basements as well)

You all have most likely seen requirements for crawlspace ventilation especially when it pertains to hardwood floor installation. Well, more and more people do not believe that works so well.

The newest and best improvenments for crawlspace ventilation are proposed in these two sites.

I kind of like the idea of having them part of the home ventilation system.

Information about crawlspace ventilation.

http://www.buildingscience.com/document ... rawlspaces



http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blo ... rawl-space

Where do you live? Would help explain what's happening.

the answer is in the structure...look in the basement...it should reveal the issue...i get a sense this area may be an extension...
or there is an issue in the subfloor/substrate....also view for hot spots/waterlines etc..