Some planks in my bamboo floor have shrunk!

A wide space (approx 1/8") has developed in a couple of places between planks in my bamboo floor. How can I fix this to look better - replacing the boards is not an option.
  4 answers
  • William William on Mar 04, 2017

    If this is a floating floor it has not shrunk but shifted. The only way to repair this would be to remove everything from the room. Remove the shoe molding from the wall the seams are parallel with and pull the flooring together sealing the seams. Squeezing some wood glue in the seams would hold them together. You would need a pull bar to pull/pound the planks together.....https://www.google.com/shopping/product/17902263720776369051?lsf=seller:8740,store:17126840476898332919&prds=oid:10085621308648840510&q=laminate+flooring+tool&hl=en&ei=_f-6WPWEIITAmwH0hoHAAg&lsft=cm_mmc%3DShopping-_-LIAs-_-D23F-_-100390108&lsft=gclid:CPnkh6m2vdICFU8bgQod0lEPpg

  • Bonnie Stein Chattler Bonnie Stein Chattler on Mar 04, 2017

    Thanks for the info, but it isn't a floating floor. Does anyone have a somewhat less compicated suggestion or fix? Would wood filler do the job?

    • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Mar 04, 2017

      When was the floor installed? If anything I would call the installer and manufacturer.

  • Julie Julie on Mar 07, 2017

    Hi there ,If recently installed I would be contacting your tradie to have the problem fixed. If the floor has been down for a while the cracks could be due to over wetting when mopping your floors .Or if steaming too much moisture can cause the wood to expand and shrink If you want to attempt a fix yourself, without me seeing the floor or pictures. I would suggest maybe getting spare boards or If you don't have spares try to get same type of .Measure gaps and cut boards accordingly to fit and place in between by nailing depending on size of gaps .If small air gaps then yes a wood filler may help ,make sure it allows for movement in the wood. You may be able to get tinted coloured wood filler .When cleaning your wood floors in future only damp mop floors try a capful of Eucalyptus oil in the warm water it puts an oil into the wood stops from drying out wood and stops risking cracking. Leaves a lovely smell like an air freshener as well. If your wood is not sealed you might think about doing that .To protect the wood in future from moisture Good Luck.

  • Bonnie Stein Chattler Bonnie Stein Chattler on Mar 08, 2017

    Thanks. The floor has been down several years and the installer is no longer available. What I failed to mention in my original post is that my ice maker disconnected somehow and leaked all over my kitchen floor and ran into my dining room where I'm having the problem. The floor was terribly warped and went back after drying out only with this gap. .I think I will give the wood filler a try. I might have to mix 2 colors together but that seems the most expeditious fix - or at least for now.