How to Repair a Separating Floor

Old wood plank floors routinely develop gaps between the boards, which change size over time, depending on the climate and other factors that affect expansion and contraction of wood. Filling those gaps with wood putty will work only until the next time the gap changes. A length of stained hemp rope, on the other hand, will expand and contract with the space, and looks natural alongside the floor planks.

Vacuum with hose
Hemp rope, braided, 1 inch thick
Utility knife
Wood stain to match the floor
Plastic bucket
Newspapers

Instructions

- 1
  Pull up all loose debris and material from inside the spaces between the floor board with your vacuum and hose.
- 2
  Measure the length of the first space. Cut a piece of rope to that length with your utility knife.
- 3
  Measure the thickness of the gap at its widest point.
- 4
  Separate the braided rope and isolate a strip that’s about the width of the widest part of the space plus one-half. For example, of the space is half an inch wide, your section of rope should be 3/4 inch wide.
- 5
  Repeat for each space in the floor, measuring and cutting one piece of rope to fit in each.
- 6
  Pour enough wood stain in a bucket to allow you to submerge all the cut rope pieces. Drop the rope strips in the stain. Let them soak for one minute. Remove them and lay them out on newspapers. Let them dry six hours.
- 7
  Lay the first cut piece of rope over the space it was cut for, along its length. Press it down into the gap with your fingers until it’s even with the surface. Repeat for each of the pieces of rope for the other spaces.

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