cork expansion strip

[Bill the Bobder]

I've just bought 23 sq.m. of Wickes solid oak flooring - I don't particularly want to lay it with a cover-strip over the expansion joint and would prefer to see a flush cork strip around the perimeter, as you see in squash courts etc. But if I pack the expansion gap with cork, will that impede the floors ability to expand - or is cork soft enough to take up the movement?

[WoodYouLike]

Cork is soft enough to take some of the expansion, but not all, you'll fill your gap for 50%.
also, when the floor expands, the cork can start to make screaking noises when you walk on the floor.
You could replace your skirting boards to cover the gap, but make sure these are 20 - 22mm thick for solid flooring (15 - 17mm for Wood-Engineered flooring), or use flat beading, making it look like a picture frame
see this post

__________________
You buy quality, we'll advise. You buy rubbish, we won't!
We're proud members of the BwfA.

[Bill the Bobder]

Cheers - thanks for that. I hadn't planned on taking off the skirting boards but the more I think about it, the better the idea seems.