Gaps in wood floors

josephny | Posted in General Questions on December 11, 2021 12:58pm

I have gaps up to 1/4″ in some old pine flooring planks on a stairway.

I sanded, stained and polyurethaned them, but now there is white color between the gaps.

Should I clean out the gaps and poly and then use lexel/caulk/filler?

Or clean out gaps, then lexel/caulk/filler, then poly?

Or clean out haps, poly and just leave it?

Thanks!

Answer

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DCContrarian | Dec 11, 2021 04:20pm | #1
I would go with clean the gaps, poly and leave it. Anything that would stay in the gaps would have to be flexible and in my opinion would look worse than the gaps. Gaps are an authentic look for old wood. Between the seasonal movement of the wood and the flexing of stairs anything rigid would crack and fall out.
josephny | Dec 12, 2021 08:14am | #2
That's a great analysis and recommendation -- and exactly what I'll do.

Thank you!