Replies

1. 
   Joby | May 05, 2007 03:54pm | #1

   A gap is a gap and there is no magic filler. To some extent you are going to have to either learn to live with them or if they are brand new and they are bad enough you can have your contractor fix it. If they are wide enough, I have heard of using different sizes of sisal rope or twine and then coating with finish. You will still see the gaps, but the rope looks much more on purpose than wood filler, which will just crack and fall out.

   Good luck

2. 
   nikkiwood | May 05, 2007 05:59pm | #2

   How big are the gaps you're talking about?

   ********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

1. 
   bobc | May 06, 2007 06:58am | #5

   they probably get as big as 1/8".

1. 
   nikkiwood | May 06, 2007 08:48am | #7

   1/8" is a reasonably sized gap. Most of the floor finishers I know use a light weight, easily sanded, water based putty -- which they trowel over the entire floor just before the final screening.I have used it myself, and it works really slick. Any floor outfit will sell it -- I paid about $25-30 for a gallon of it the last time I did a floor. I can give you a brand name if you need it (the container is in my shop).********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

2. 
   frenchy | May 08, 2007 03:42am | #8

   BobC

        Please wait and measure them this summer during the really high humidity period say late June early July..  Leave the A/C off and windows open after the rains so the full variety of wood movement is present.. This requires more than 10 minutes to occur so you will need the windows open all day long and night too for weeks if you can stand it.. If you can't stand it and you turn on the A/C it's probably the same as mid winter to the wood as far as movement goes.

    I mean another 30 to 60 days isn't too long to wait is it?

    If they are still excessive, There are simple solutions you can do yourself without much skill or equipment.  

     I know that this sounds crazy but if you've ever seen a beautiful wood floor buckle up due to improper spacing you will be much more reluctant to act in such a cavilier fashion..

    PS I have no contact with your flooring guy.. I don't know who he is nor do I care.. if he screwed up I'd say so.. But I have seen wood movement and the damage that can occur and want to save you from the problem if I can.. .

1. 
   bobc | May 08, 2007 05:46am | #9

   frenchy:

   hey thanks i appreciate the warning. If i was too cavelier, i'd just do...thus the discussion. I've never seen a floor buckle but i guess my logic was that if there was a filler that stayed flexable -- almost like a caulk but not quite that flexable...just not super brittle -- that i wouldn't have the problem of it exerting so much force so as to buckle the wood and also not get so broken so as to want to work it's way out. sort of like backer rod for tile or expansion joints in concrete. Only smaller.

1. 
   frenchy | May 08, 2007 03:18pm | #10

   Bob C

      There is sorta, but it's a real band aide and not terribly durable.  Plus it stands out like, well a band aide..

2. 
   bobc | May 09, 2007 04:28am | #11

   Frenchy....thanks. i guess i'll take another look at these gaps and make sure i can live with them. I do really appreciate your cautionary feedback.

3. 
   [email protected] | May 05, 2007 07:42pm | #3

   A traditional filler for wide plank tongue and groove flooring was sawdust and linseed oil.  It will get stiff, but never really hard. 

   I have never tried this, but read about it in a book on historical house building techniques. 

4. 
   sapwood | May 05, 2007 09:16pm | #4

   I don't know of any magic filler. We used a water based filler on my oak floor. This was done in late winter...... the dry air months. It looked fantastic. Then came summer and some humidity. The flooring expanded and sqeezed out a lot of the filler. There were little ridges all over the place. This eventually wore off. Now we have gaps since obviously a filler wouldn't stay put. The floor still looks fantastic.

   Actually there is now a filler of sorts in the cracks. Our dog is shedding like crazy so we have, in part, an organic filler. I would classify this as part of the green building movement. It would be better if his hair color was blond. The black is really too contrasty. But, hey, I've got too much training time invested in this dog to get rid of him now. Hmmm...... maybe I could train him to use the vacuum.

1. 
   bobc | May 06, 2007 07:00am | #6

   seems odd that there's no flexable filler. Seems like if the putty stayed somewhat flexable like a caulk then you wouldn't have the issue of it working its way out. yea, you'd probably need to put it in maybe during the summer months (smallest amount of putty).

   How come that does't work?