laminate advice req

[matt1e]

hi I am busy decorating my passage and we have decided to do away with the carpet and go for laminate type flooring and would like to hear any advice/suggestions as to what type to go for etc
My problem is this - The house is grade 2 listed (built 1836)so the cutting of skirtings/mouldings around doors etc is not allowed nor would i wish to do this. also sanding/varnishing the original floor is not really an option as the boards do not have any tongues or grooves so there are gaps in between them
My question is this- I know you are supposed to leave an expansion gap so how much (or less) of one can I get away with? I was planning on fitting the floor really close then filling the gap with a bead of coloured silicone would this be feasible?
the width is just under 4ft and length about 18 ft also there is a basement floor beneath (would there really be that much expansion over 4ft?)
Any advice on type of laminate or other solutions greatly appreciated

matt

 

[big-all]

4 ft you will get away with a 5mm gap either side filled with silicon provided its fully acclimitised or a 3mm gap open with nothing blocking the expansion
can even be tight one side with 6mm on the other side

all providing its a fully isolated area with no other flooring connected directly that will try and push it off line

allow an extra 2mm at each end [7mm]and be prepaired to remove the silicon if nessisery for extra expansion but in general expansion along the length is less off a problem

 

[matt1e]

thanks big for your reply
do you know if certain types expand more than others?
regards
matt

 

[big-all]

if they are "acclimatised" there is not a lot to choose between them as your not talking a "wet area " like a bathroom /kitchen

if you unwrap the planking and store flat for 2 weeks in the hall or 1 week in a slightly warmer room away from direct heat like radiators or sun youll be fine

 

[matt1e]

many thanks big all I thought (hoped lol ) i'd be ok thanks for the advice!

matt

 

[WoodYouLike]

DON'T FILL YOUR EXPANSION GAP! Why leave one in the first place to fill it up afterwards?

If you can't use your skirtingboards to place over the expansion gap go for flat beading to cover it.

 

[big-all]

DON'T FILL YOUR EXPANSION GAP! Why leave one in the first place to fill it up afterwards?

If you can't use your skirtingboards to place over the expansion gap go for flat beading to cover it.

do not panic woods

thats why i said 5mm for silicon over 3mm for empty gap as silicon will give quite easily the 2.mm requiredfor expansion
unlike cork

 

[WoodYouLike]

sorry big-all, but it seems we are on a 'quest' to ban the practise of filling the expansion gaps (with cork or anything else).

This was - in the short time of 2 days - the 5th mentioning of it - so I shot out of my slipper (as the well-know Dutch phrase goes)

 

[matt1e]

Hi wood thks for the reply also
the reason I didn't want to use beading is because of the door cornices - they are quite large and detailed and I dont think I could get flat beading to look good around them which is why I thought that using a flexible filler like silicone and a smaller gap (due to the small width <4ft) would be ok

matt

 

[WoodYouLike]

Architraves in the UK - you just got to love them don't you

We normally undercut them, slide the wood floor underneath and end the flat beading next to it, like your skirting boards do