Solid wood flooring expansion gaps

[Ricardus]

I want to lay solid wood flooring in my kitchen/diner which is roughly square with a corner taken off. Thing is I have a pair of double doors into the lounge at one end with a floor level threshold (no step whatsoever) and uPVC french doors at the other with a low threshold.
For neatness, I'd like to run the planks parallel to the thresholds with short ends facing towards the wall.
I know I have to leave expansion gaps at the short ends - can I get away with not leaving an expansion gap at one or both of the thresholds?

Room size is roughly 4.5m square, planks are 1200x130mm-ish
(Costco have a deal on at the end of March which works out about £20/sqm)

 

[WoodYouLike]

Not advisable, although wood doesn't expand much lengthways it is best to leave some room to move there too.
Solutions: coloured mastic (flexible filler) to make it a neat finish or installing a flat beading on top of the expansion gap.

 

[Ricardus]

Thanks!

While I'm thinking of it I'll be having a couple of 3"x3" pillars in roughly the middle of the room to hold a radiator - expansion gap around those or no?

Can I bias the expansion gap one way? One side of the room will be lined with kitchen units so I could have a large gap under them without it looking unsightly.

 

[WoodYouLike]

Thanks!

While I'm thinking of it I'll be having a couple of 3"x3" pillars in roughly the middle of the room to hold a radiator - expansion gap around those or no?

Expansion gaps around everything is the best way forward. If the wood expands anything that's holding it back is a source of larger problems than needed.

Can I bias the expansion gap one way? One side of the room will be lined with kitchen units so I could have a large gap under them without it looking unsightly.

Don't say I didn't warn you if it does go wrong, but I'll leave the ultimate decision with you.