Welcome to Sealed Solution, your trusted partner in combating hardwood floor cupping in Raleigh, NC and surrounding cities. We specialize in providing expert solutions for high moisture crawl spaces, helping you protect your valuable hardwood floors and maintain a healthy home environment. Below, we address some frequently asked questions to guide you through the process as we find the LEAST PRICED SOLUTION that addresses all issues in the crawl space and lasts for the life of the home.
1. What causes hardwood floor cupping in Raleigh, NC? Hardwood floor cupping is caused by excessive moisture in crawl spaces. Before 1973 NC did not have central air so our home/crawlspace/and outside were all the same temperature. AFTER 1973 North Carolina homeowners got central air and artificially chilled our homes to 72F – 74F. This made the ceiling of our crawl spaces chilled. And like a cold glass of sweet tea in our kitchen the warmer moister air will condensate on the cold surface. This is why NO VENTED CRAWLSPACE in NC can avoid excessive moisture in the crawl space.
2. How does moisture in crawl spaces lead to hardwood floor cupping? When moisture levels rise in crawl spaces, the excess moisture can penetrate the hardwood floors above. This leads to the expansion of the wood fibers, causing them to swell and push against each other, resulting in cupping or warping of the floors. Your homes AC naturally makes dry 50% humidity air so the tops of your hardwood floors are dry around 12% wood moisture content. Underneath during the warm season your crawlspace ceiling sweats and is regularly above 16%. This makes the wood swell underneath as the dry wood on top wants to stay in place and thereby CUPPING the wood. Stop the crawl space moisture and the cupping stops.
SIMPLE SOLUTION:
1. Air seal and insulate crawl space foundation vents and crawl space door
2. Cover the ground 100% with 6 mil plastic or thicker. Taping seams and staking down plastic helps.
3. Trickle in 1/10 of 1% of your AC’s already 50% humidity air into the crawl space.
4. $14 humidity sensor from Amazon this gives you a reading every 60 seconds and graphs it for you on your smart phone. Even alerts you when the humidity is high.
3. What are the signs of high moisture levels in crawl spaces? Signs of high moisture levels in crawl spaces include musty odors, mold growth, condensation on surfaces, and visible water damage. Additionally, homeowners may notice hardwood floors starting to cup or warp.
4. How can sealed crawl spaces help prevent hardwood floor cupping? Sealed crawl spaces are designed to prevent moisture intrusion by encapsulating the area with a moisture barrier and implementing proper ventilation and dehumidification systems. This helps maintain optimal moisture levels, protecting hardwood floors from cupping and other moisture-related issues.
5. Why choose Sealed Solution for sealed crawl space services in Raleigh, NC? At Sealed Solution, we have 18 years of experience serving the Raleigh community with top-quality sealed crawl space solutions. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing personalized services tailored to your home’s specific needs, ensuring long-lasting protection against hardwood floor cupping and other moisture-related problems. We find the LEAST PRICED solution that addresses ALL situations and lasts for the life of your home. We will also share with you the more expensive service options but we don’t push them.
6. What sets Sealed Solution apart from other sealed crawl space companies in Raleigh, NC?
We treat you like family. Our patented drying system saves you over $1,400 a year each and every year over our competitors. We prioritize customer satisfaction and quality craftsmanship in every project we undertake. From the owner, Matt Garrett, who always does thorough inspections on ALL jobs to assure meticulous installations, we go above and beyond to exceed our clients’ expectations and deliver superior results that stand the test of time.
7. How can I schedule a consultation with Sealed Solution? Ready to take the first step towards protecting your hardwood floors from cupping? Contact us today to schedule a consultation with one of our sealed crawl space experts. We’ll assess your crawl space needs and recommend the best solutions to fit your budget and requirements. Each season that goes by the floors uncup in the dry Winter months and this cupping and uncupping each year binds the fibers so they can never return back to normal again. So the sooner you dry your crawl space out the better. If its a little late and the cupping does not come back as flat as you want. At least know when the flooring company does refinish your hardwood floors you’ll NEVER have to do it again. We recommend Arcardio Hardwood floors.
Don’t let hardwood floor cupping compromise the beauty and integrity of your Raleigh home. Trust Sealed Solution to provide the expert solutions you need for high moisture crawl spaces. Contact us today to learn more and schedule your consultation!