Wood cracks, splits, or stains

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Section 11.13Troubleshooting

Wood cracks, splits, or stains

Quick reference for normal vs. concerning wood characteristics. Full coverage in Section 10.10.

For complete coverage of normal vs concerning wood movement, see Section 10.10. Quick reference:

Normal

  • Surface checks (hairline cracks along the grain) on bench tops and walls
  • Minor color variation between boards
  • Wood absorbing moisture and showing temporary darker areas after sessions

Concerning (contact our team)

  • Cracks through the full thickness of a panel
  • Splits across the grain
  • Soft or spongy areas
  • Persistent dark spots that don't sand out
  • Black mold-like staining

Photograph the area in good light and send it to our team for evaluation.

Last updated May 3, 2026