Why Do Floor Planks Separate?

Published: September 24, 2026

Table of Contents

• Are gaps in hardwood floors normal?
• Why can LVP or laminate planks separate?
• Can an uneven subfloor make planks pull apart?
• What should you check before trying to repair a gap?
• Should you fill gaps between floor planks yourself?
• Can you prevent floor planks from separating?
• When should you have a flooring professional look at the gaps?
• Don’t guess at the gap
• Questions You May Still Have About Separating Floor Planks

Floor planks can separate because of normal seasonal movement, changes in indoor humidity, installation conditions, subfloor movement, or problems with a floating floor’s locking system.

The important part is figuring out which kind of floor you have and whether the gap changes with the seasons or stays put.

We wouldn’t treat every gap the same way. A small winter gap in real hardwood can be normal. A joint opening in LVP or laminate may point to a different installation or substrate issue.

Before you fill, glue, or force anything back together, start with the material and the pattern of the separation.

Are gaps in hardwood floors normal?

Some are.

Real wood gains and loses moisture as indoor conditions change. The National Wood Flooring Association explains that wood can shrink in dry conditions and swell when humidity rises.

Small gaps that appear during the dry season and close again when humidity returns can be part of normal seasonal movement.

Indiana winters can make this more noticeable because heating the home often dries the indoor air. Your flooring manufacturer’s humidity recommendations should always come first.

How do you know when a hardwood gap isn’t just seasonal?

Pay attention to whether the gaps close when indoor humidity rises again.

Large, irregular, or persistent gaps deserve a closer look. Installation spacing, debris between boards, subfloor movement, moisture conditions, fastener issues, or structural movement can all contribute to abnormal gapping.

That is why filling a gap immediately isn’t always the right first move. If the wood expands later, filler placed into a normal seasonal gap can create a new problem.

Why can LVP or laminate planks separate?

Floating LVP and laminate floors behave differently from nailed hardwood.

The planks are designed to connect through a mechanical locking system, and the substrate, perimeter expansion space, and installation must comply with the product manufacturer’s requirements.

Gaps may develop between planks if the locking mechanism wasn’t fully engaged, an interlocking edge was damaged, the floor’s movement is restricted, or the substrate falls outside the manufacturer’s required tolerances. However, the presence of a gap doesn’t, by itself, establish one specific cause.

A gap in a floating floor isn’t proof of one specific cause. Furniture or cabinets that restrict movement, missing or incorrect expansion space, temperature conditions, an uneven subfloor, or installation details can all matter depending on the product.

Can an uneven subfloor make planks pull apart?

Yes, it can contribute to flooring movement and stress.

If the separation is accompanied by movement, bouncing, clicking, uneven areas, or repeated failure of the locking mechanism in the same location, the condition and flatness of the substrate should be evaluated as a possible contributing factor. 

The difficult part is that some subfloor problems are hidden until the existing flooring is removed.

If separation is paired with bouncing, clicking, uneven spots, or repeated joint problems in the same area, the substrate is one of the conditions worth evaluating.

What should you check before trying to repair a gap?

Start with observation rather than a repair kit.

Identify the flooring material if you can. Note when you first saw the gap, whether it changes by season, whether several joints are affected, and whether the floor feels loose, raised, or uneven nearby.

For hardwood, check indoor humidity with a hygrometer and compare it with the flooring manufacturer’s recommended range.

If you have the flooring paperwork, installation instructions, or product warranty, keep them handy. The correct repair depends on the product and how it was installed.

Should you fill gaps between floor planks yourself?

Not until you understand the cause.

Seasonal hardwood gaps may close on their own when humidity returns. Floating LVP or laminate joints may need a product-specific repair, plank replacement, or correction of the condition causing the movement.

Forcing adhesive or filler into the wrong floor can interfere with movement or make a later repair harder.

A cosmetic fix isn’t much help if the real issue is underneath the floor.

If the separation repeatedly returns, continues to widen, affects multiple connections, or is accompanied by buckling, lifting, moisture, or soft areas, the underlying cause should be identified before attempting a repair. 

Can you prevent floor planks from separating?

The risk of separation can be reduced, but the appropriate preventive measures depend on the flooring material and installation method.

Identifying and correcting moisture or substrate conditions before installation is important for all hard-surface flooring rather than covering over unresolved problems.

Wood flooring also benefits from maintaining stable indoor temperature and humidity levels within the manufacturer’s requirements. Floating floors depend on proper substrate preparation, secure engagement of the mechanical locking system, adequate expansion space, and correct installation techniques.

When should you have a flooring professional look at the gaps?

Contact a flooring professional when the separation persists, continues to widen, appears in multiple locations, or is accompanied by moisture, buckling, movement, damaged locking components, or an uneven floor.

A professional can help determine whether the gaps result from normal material movement, a product defect, installation-related conditions, damaged flooring, inadequate environmental control, or a problem with the substrate. That determination is important because it affects both the appropriate repair and whether the issue may qualify for coverage under a manufacturer’s product warranty or the installer’s labor warranty.

Before attempting repairs, review the applicable warranty requirements and contact the flooring retailer or installer. Take photographs and document when the separation began and whether it has changed. Altering or removing the flooring before it’s evaluated could affect available warranty coverage.

Don’t guess at the gap

If your floor planks are separating and you aren’t sure why, contact us or schedule an appointment.

We can help you understand the flooring material, the surrounding conditions, and the right next step before you make a repair that may not solve the cause.

Questions You May Still Have About Separating Floor Planks

Why are my hardwood floor gaps worse in winter?

Indoor air is often drier during the heating season, so real wood can lose moisture and shrink. If the gaps are seasonal and close again when humidity rises, that can be normal wood movement.

Will LVP gaps close on their own?

LVP separation can have several causes, including improper engagement of the mechanical locking system, restrictions on the floor’s movement, substrate conditions, environmental changes, or damaged planks. The cause should be identified before attempting to reposition or glue the planks together.

Depending on the cause, some seasonal movement may change as indoor conditions stabilize, but persistent separation generally requires evaluation rather than assuming the gaps will close on their own.

Does a gap mean my flooring was installed incorrectly?

Not necessarily. As explained above, flooring gaps can develop for several reasons, including normal material movement, site conditions, product damage, or installation-related factors. The flooring type, location, pattern, and progression of the gaps must be evaluated before determining the cause or whether the installation was performed incorrectly.