Checks vs. Splits vs. Shake (Solid Hardwood)

Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide

Summary

Checks, splits, and shake are distinct types of wood separations that may appear similar in installed solid hardwood flooring but differ in origin, timing, and structural significance. Checks typically develop during the lumber drying process and may later open or close as indoor moisture conditions change. Splits are more extensive fractures that extend through the thickness of the board and are commonly associated with severe stress, restraint, or mechanical influence. Shake is a separation that forms along the

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