Skirting Boards Warping Away from Wall

Dats_rite

Hi all,

I've a problem with our oak skirting boards. We bought the house in april 2017 and the oak skirting boards were fine and flush with the wall.

Over the past 2 or 3 weeks the skirting has started to warp and bend away from the wall at the top of the board. Up to 15mm at the worst point at the moment. The house was built approx 13 years ago and I am assuming that the oak skirting has been on since then.

Does anyone have any ideas why it would be happening now after so long?

Thanks. I've taken some photos too but cant seem to post them here

Mongfinder General

Dats_rite wrote: »

Hi all,

I've a problem with our oak skirting boards. We bought the house in april 2017 and the oak skirting boards were fine and flush with the wall.

Over the past 2 or 3 weeks the skirting has started to warp and bend away from the wall at the top of the board. Up to 15mm at the worst point at the moment. The house was built approx 13 years ago and I am assuming that the oak skirting has been on since then.

Does anyone have any ideas why it would be happening now after so long?

Thanks. I've taken some photos too but cant seem to post them here

Do you put the hearing on a lot?

Dats_rite

Mongfinder General wrote: »

Do you put the hearing on a lot?

We have underfloor heating downstairs, where the problem is, and the heat comes on for 3 hours every day. Maybe an hour or 2 extra if it is very cold. This has been the routine for past 2 years and not much has changed.

We have a stove downstairs we have been using a bit more this year. Could that be an issue?

dok_golf

Sounds like there might be moisture getting in making the board swell. That would be my first guess

listermint

Are you sure they are actually oak and not oak laminate.

I'd suggest water leak perhaps

Dats_rite

Dats_rite wrote: »

We have underfloor heating downstairs, where the problem is, and the heat comes on for 3 hours every day. Maybe an hour or 2 extra if it is very cold. This has been the routine for past 2 years and not much has changed.

We have a stove downstairs we have been using a bit more this year. Could that be an issue?

Picture of the issue

Dats_rite

Dats_rite wrote: »

Picture of the issue

Correct format this time

listermint

Dats_rite wrote: »

Correct format this time

It's odd that this is happening now. But that is consistent with once side of the board drying out quicker than the other leading to warping.

Most definitely related to moisture content and heating drying


It can be avoided by finishing both sides of the skirting. But once it's warped it's gone . No saving it.

Purgative

I re-did the skirting in our kitchen last year - it was mank.


Anyway I couldn't fit one piece correctly because the wall was a curve. Get one side lined up and the end was about an inch out.


I "solved" it with a small headed screw at each end. Its not pretty but it does the job.

Mongfinder General

Dats_rite wrote: »

We have underfloor heating downstairs, where the problem is, and the heat comes on for 3 hours every day. Maybe an hour or 2 extra if it is very cold. This has been the routine for past 2 years and not much has changed.

We have a stove downstairs we have been using a bit more this year. Could that be an issue?

I can only talk about my own experience. I bought a house about 12 years ago. I didn't really use the heating as I was rarely home during the first 6 years. I got married about 5 years ago and the heating is on non stop. Every door way in the house expanded. The wood hasn't warped but if there is damp or moisture present then this will warp wood when coupled with the heating being on a lot.

J.R.

That is pretty bad....way past being rectified.

I'd take the boards off and have a look behind.
Check for dampness...heating pipes...anything that may give a clue.

Like previously said it looks like damp boards drying out.

whizbang

Thats very likely Veneered softwood or Mdf.

Moisture drying out would cause the back to shrink, and stay close to the wall, which is not happening here.

It looks to me like significant amounts of water getting into them.

Is the stove a boiler type ?

Dats_rite

whizbang wrote: »

Thats very likely Veneered softwood or Mdf.

Moisture drying out would cause the back to shrink, and stay close to the wall, which is not happening here.

It looks to me like significant amounts of water getting into them.

Is the stove a boiler type ?

No, stove has no back boiler.

I dont think the boards are softwood. See attached photo

lalababa

This issue has been coming up alot lately. The skirting board is fine , it's the walls that are contracting., due to climate change . Check out wallcontractionsincethe1970's.com

listermint

Dats_rite wrote: »

No, stove has no back boiler.

I dont think the boards are softwood. See attached photo

Definitely Oak,

And its moisture leaving the oak. due to proximity to a heat source

BrokenArrows

lalababa wrote: »

This issue has been coming up alot lately. The skirting board is fine , it's the walls that are contracting., due to climate change . Check out wallcontractionsincethe1970's.com

Haha