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Hardwood ~ White Line Syndrome Explained

White Line Syndrome Explained by Katie Knight

Many flooring pros see white line syndrome at some point in their careers.

Often we hear about it in waves. One year, we'll get just one complaint, the next it'll seem like every other installer is fighting white line syndrome.

White line syndrome is a common and often misunderstood wood floor issue. Keep reading to learn why it happens, how to prevent it, and how to treat white line syndrome.

Why does white line syndrome happen?

Usually, we see white line syndrome in the spring after a dry, cold winter. Fluctuations in seasonal humidity and temperature cause the floor and finish to expand.

Floors with white lines typically start out at the right moisture content, then get dry in the winter. As the humidity increases in the spring, the finish stretches or lifts, creating obvious white lines between every single board.

If the humidity doesn't change as much (often because of a well-maintained home environment or inconsistently dry areas of the country), white lines usually won't appear.

White line syndrome happens because the floor moves - which is usually caused by seasonal or extreme environmental conditions. Although there can be problems during the finishing process, It's not often a finish or application failure.

How can I prevent white line syndrome on wood floors?

We've found two helpful articles that explain the causes and solutions for white line syndrome. Every situation will be different, so accurately diagnosing what is going on is important to prevent it later.

White line syndrome is more pronounced on dark floors. Additionally, wide plank floors are more susceptible than narrower floors. Even so, white lines can be prevented with 4 steps.

White Lines

Ben Totta with Totta Hardwoods in Kansas City writes about his experience with white lines and provides 4 steps to prevent them.

He suggests learning about what finish is right for each situation:

There’s no such thing as a perfect finish product or type of finish. They all have their pros and cons and place. Educate yourself on when they will perform well, and confidently educate your customers.

One of the most common types of white line syndrome is caused by peeling finish. This occurs along the board's edges. But not all white lines are caused by peeling. Find out what the other causes of white line syndrome on Wood Floor Business here.

What Is Really Causing White Line Syndrome?

Wood Floor Business delves into the various causes and theories surrounding white line syndrome. The article gives an overview of the differing opinions of the malady and tips for how to prevent white lines.

An interesting cause the article notes is the short timelines on many new construction jobs:

Today's more urgent job sites also may play into WLS. In the olden days, wood floors were installed and sat on a job site for a while before they were sanded and finished. Today, jobs tend to be more rushed than ever, and the wood may still be settling in—in particular, shrinking—while the finish is still flexible and drying.

Educating your customer is also highly recommended. It's important to always go over proper cleaning and maintenance tips, as well as letting them know when white lines may be an issue.

How can I treat a floor with white line syndrome?

The first step to treat white lines is to determine whether it's caused by lifting or stretching.

• Lifting? It's a good idea to get the sander out. Resanding and refinishing is the best way to get rid of the lines. Just remember to re-finish with the right type of product.
• Stretching? If it's in a few areas, you may be able to touch it up by cutting the film stretched over the seam, and touching up with a stain marker. This will hide the white line fairly well but is quite tedious and time-consuming if the area is very large.

Is there a finish that won't create white lines?

In his NWFA article about white lines, Ben Totta reminds us that all products have pros and cons. Knowing which product is appropriate for your application is crucial. Not all products will work the same in every application.

When in doubt, oil-modified finish, conversion varnish, and penetrating oils are safe options for preventing white lines.

Pros and Cons of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

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Traditionally, hardwood flooring is installed as unfinished planks that are then stained and finished with a protective surface layer on-site. More recently, many manufacturers have begun to offer prefinished hardwood flooring products that arrive with very good finishing treatments already applied to hardwood materials. There are certain advantages to purchasing and installing this prefinished hardwood flooring, as well as several drawbacks. Consumers should understand both the pros and cons of this form of flooring when making decisions.

It is important to note that the advantages of prefinished hardwood flooring apply mostly to solid hardwood products. Engineered hardwood flooring, which is also sold in prefinished form, lacks some of the advantages of prefinished solid hardwood.

Pros of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

Durability: When the factory applies the finish treatment to the wood, they are able to use very powerful chemical sealers, which are applied by commercial processes that are not available to on-site installers. Typically, this consists of aluminum oxide crystals embedded in a UV-cured urethane coat. While site-applied finishes are normally warranted for 3 to 5 years, factory-applied treatments may have warranties of 5 to 25 years or more.

Easy installation: It is much easier and quicker to install prefinished hardwood than to go through the process of sanding and staining the material on-site. Sanding is a messy procedure that fills the room with wood dust, which then has to be thoroughly cleaned. Hours or even days may be required for finishes to dry between coats. And after that, the finish can leave a residual odor in the air, requiring weeks to dissipate. By contrast, prefinished floors are ready to go as soon as they are installed.

Ease of maintenance: Because the surface seal is stronger and more durable when it is applied at the factory, the maintenance of these floors is easier. They tend to be slightly more impervious to stains, moisture, and other discolorations than floors that are finished on site. In addition, the longer-lasting finish means that you will not have to go through the time, mess, and expense of getting the floors refinished a few years later.

Refinishing is possible: With prefinished flooring, you get all of the advantages of the factory-applied extra-durable surface seal, plus the look, beauty, and feel of natural hardwood. At the same time, you also always have the option later on of sanding down past the factory-applied coat to reveal the natural wood. It can then be treated with any of the basic on-site finishing techniques.

Illustration: © The Spruce, 2018 

Cons of Prefinished Hardwood

Seams aren't sealed: Because the material is finished at the factory, a sealing agent is not applied to the lines between the planks when they are installed. This can lead to dirt and grime getting caught in these seams. The seams also may be susceptible to water penetration, which can cause rot or mold to grow beneath the surface of the floor.

Beveled plank style: This isn’t necessarily a drawback, but more of a style choice. Often, factory prefinished wood planks will have beveled, slightly rounded edges. This gives the wood plank a more finished and slightly manufactured look. This can be great for the style of some interiors, but it may not look the same as standard hardwood planks with full, squared edges already installed in other rooms.

Subfloor flaws may be evident: With a site-finished floor you install the material and then sand it flat. This allows you to remove any height irregularities which may exist due to an uneven subfloor. But with prefinished materials, there is no sanding process, so the actual surface of the installation will reflect any below-surface flaws that may be present. A perfectly flat subfloor is essential to ensure a smooth surface.

Refinishing requires heavy sanding: While prefinished floors do not need to be refinished for a very long time, eventually the surface seal will start to fade, scratch, and discolor slightly. Because of the thick and pervasive nature of the prefinished topcoat, refinishing requires extensive sanding to reach the natural hardwood again. This cuts down on the thickness of the floor planks and limits how many times you can then refinish the floor in the future.

Repairs are complicated: With site-finished floors, when a piece of wood becomes damaged, you can often repair it by sanding smooth the imperfection. On a prefinished floor, however, the thick seal layer means that when a section of flooring becomes damaged, the only way to repair it is to either sand the finish off the entire floor or remove and replace the broken section.

Bottom Line

Overall, the advantages of prefinished solid hardwood flooring will outweigh the drawbacks for most homeowners. Many dozens of wood species and colors are now available, and for DIYers, the installation will be far easier than it is with unfinished hardwood, and far less expensive if you are hiring contractors to install your flooring.

Article written by: Joseph Lewitin