DIY Warped Wood Floor Repair

Wood floors warp for a few different reasons including water damage, not sealing the floor or direct exposure to sunlight. Water damage from leaks and flooding is the most common cause of warping wood floorboards. Homeowners going for a natural look may decide not to seal their floors; unfortunately, this practice rarely ends well. Unsealed floors expand and contact at a much higher rate than sealed wood. Sealed wood changes are minimal and don't interrupt the flow of the floor whereas unprotected wood swells and has no place to expand, causing warping and buckling. it is possible to repair slight to moderately warped floor boards yourself.

Slightly Warped Wood Floors

Submerge a thick towel in very warm water and squeeze out the excess, just so the towel no longer drips.

Lay the towel over the warped section.

Put heavy objects such as bricks, cinder block or even a pot of water directly on top of the warp.

Leave the weight in place for 24 to 48 hours until the warp is corrected.

Lay a large dry towel over the warp and put the weight back in place for another 24 to 48 hours.

Seal the floor with a paste floor wax to help protect the wood from warping again. Better yet, seal the floors with polyurethane.

Moderately Warped Wood Floors

Lay wet towel over the warped floor and place weight on it for 24 hours.

Choose a drill bit slightly narrower than your floor screws.

Drill holes every 3 inches through the warped floorboard into the floor joists.

Line up long screws with the pilot holes and sink them through the warped wood into the floor joists.

Fill the holes left by the screw heads with a matching color wood putty. Let the wood putty dry.

Sand the top of the wood putty with 220-grit sandpaper.

Buy a matching gel stain or liquid scratch cover to paint on over the repairs.

After the stain or scratch cover is dry, apply a coat of wax to the hardwood floor.