When laying laminate flooring it is essential that you leave at least a 10-12mm expansion gap around the perimeter of the floor.
Generally, a gap of 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch is recommended for hardwood flooring, while laminate flooring typically requires a gap of 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch. It's important to note that the expansion gap should be consistent throughout the room, including around obstacles such as doorways, cabinets, and pipes.
1.0 – 1.5 mm expansion / contraction per linear meter across the grains. There must therefore be an expansion gap all around the room, including at radiator pipes etc., of minimum 12 mm (1/2”). If installed above under floor heating, then please see below.
Expansion gaps are a must!
During installation, use spacers or carpenter shims to ensure the proper expansion gap is maintained along all walls of the room. These spacers/shims will be removed after you're finished installing your new laminate floor.
Using a dust and resin filling.
Once you have your sawdust, you need to mix it with a clear resin filler, which you'll be able to get from any DIY shop or your wood floor supplier. The consistency you're aiming for is a bit like a thick putty, which you then introduce into the gaps using a spatula.
How does a floating floor stay in place? Floating floors connect at the seams using a tongue and groove or interlocking system. Once installed, the weight of the floating floor keeps the floor in place for years.
There are a few issues you can encounter if the expansion gap is too big, over 1/2″. As mentioned, the laminate can also contract. If the planks have too much space to shrink, you can end up with large gaps at the seams. This can affect the stability of the floor, but also invite dirt and debris to fill the gap.
Yes, floating floors will settle in time. Don't worry about it. If they don't, it means they haven't been laid out correctly, and you should re-do it. However, please note that there is a slight difference between a nailed hardwood floor and a floating one.
Insert spacers or wedges, which you can get from any DIY market, between the wall and the flooring. A cheaper alternative is to use common household items such as clothespins, corks, wooden blocks or the like.
Generally speaking, gaps in a wood floor are normal for boards up to 2¼ inches wide if the gaps close during more humid times of the year. Normal gaps can vary in width, ranging from hairline gaps to the thickness of a quarter.
It is best to have a gap between loft boards and insulation to ensure its effectiveness. It is also best to use the right materials, although this can affect the cost.
Brecon is a very popular choice for bathroom and/or kitchen flooring as it usually needs no expansion gaps, is fully waterproof flooring, and comes with a built-in underlay, so installation can be quick and efficient.
On average, laminate flooring can last 15 to 25 years with proper care and maintenance. However, some higher-quality laminate floors can last even longer, potentially up to 30 years.
What are the problems with floating floors? Floating floors can be susceptible to moisture and humidity, which can cause warping or buckling. They also tend to be more prone to gaps between planks due to their lack of attachment.
Expansion and contraction is a fact of life
When installing floating vinyl floors it is necessary to allow for this expansion by leaving a gap around the perimeter of the floor or anywhere it meets another floor or vertical surface.
Gapping in floating floors has many causes. Humidity is the biggest contributing factor to floor gaps. The humidity in the spring and summer months cause the planks to expand. Heating the air in the fall and winter months removes the majority of the humidity in the air.
If the subfloor has dents or bumps, the laminate won't lay flat, causing that spongy feeling. Eventually, if the subfloor is really uneven, you could break the laminate. Another reason behind the bouncy walk could be an improper installation of underlayment. Buckling also leads to a bouncy floor.
A floating floor can have a slight bounce or give underfoot, but it should not feel excessively bouncy or unstable.
Install the First Row
All laminate flooring will expand and contract due to temperature and humidity fluctuations. To allow for this expansion, place 3/8-inch spacers along the wall to leave a consistent gap around the edges of the floor.
Measure out the length and width of the room, and divide the width of the room by the width of the planks. Plan for ¼” gap along the walls to allow for expansion. This will tell you how many rows of planks you need.
As stated above, all floating floors require expansion gaps as a general rule. This includes all flooring options within our Engineered Timber, Laminate and Hybrid collections. As our Luxury Vinyl Plank Floorboards utilise a stick down installation method, they do not require a buffer zone.
A: All floating floors will move some as they are not solidly anchored to the floor.
On the downside, however, floating floors are prone to faster wear than its counterpart. Floating floors generally incorporate thinner materials that cannot be sanded — often leading to a shorter lifespan.