Question: What signs will indicate the house is drying out?

Answer:

• Small gaps may appear between the cabinets, vanities, counter/tile joints and walls.
• Miter joints in the door and window trim, baseboards and other trim may open up, and door(s) may stick.
• Fireplace mantels may shrink slightly and pull away from the walls or at the joints. Lacquered surrounds may crack at joints.
• Wood flooring opens between individual pieces, or settles from the baseboards at the walls or under jambs and trims.
• Small gaps show between stairs mouldings, drywall and the walls.

Question: What should be done if drying symptoms, like gaps or cracks, appear in the flooring?

Answer: Most shrinkage gaps and cracks can be easily repaired using appropriate caulking or wood filler. In many cases, wood flooring will return to its normal state in the spring or early summer as humidity levels rise, though minor separation is considered normal. To minimize drying symptoms, ensure your home’s humidity is maintained at the appropriate level for the time of year.

Question: Why does the floor vibrate or make noise?

Answer: Vibration is caused by the floor joist deflecting downwards when weight is applied. This is a common characteristic of engineered wood flooring systems and is not uncommon in modern construction. The deflection can sometimes cause dishes in cabinets to rattle or create a sound when someone walks on the floor above.

Question: Before developing the basement, is it possible to move a telepost to make a room larger?

Answer: Teleposts are essential structural elements designed to support the interior weight of the home. Moving or altering them could compromise the structural integrity of the entire building. Any changes to teleposts should only be made after consulting a structural engineer, who can assess whether it’s safe to reposition or remove them.