I’m still working on my kitchen remodel. I’m installing 2 1/4″ x 3/4″ red oak strip flooring. The room is about 14 feet wide and 22 feet long. I have allowed about 1/2″ along each wall for the floor to expand if needed. On the exterior wall there is a sliding glass door with an oak threshold. I have left the 1/2″ gap between the new floor and the door threshold. I’m looking for advice on how the handle this gap. I’m thinking of making a new door threshold which extends over the gap and rests on top of the floor. Is there a standard or better way to handle this?
On the other side of the room, there is a short hall leading to the laundry room. I am also installing hardwood in the hall but I want the boards to run perpendicular to the boards in the main part of the kitchen. I figure I need to allow for expansion in this direction change. How should I handle this type of transition?
Thanks for all your help.
Cyrus
Replies
The majority of the expansion / contraction is going to occur over the width of the board as opposed to the length. The flooring should have been installed tight to the door threshold. If your threshold sits higher than finished flooring you can install a small 1/4 rd. so long as it doesnt sit too high. As far as running flooring perpendicular, you`ll notice flooring has tongue and grooves at ends as well. Using the last piece of kitchen floor as your starter, butt up tight and bang away.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
If I had installed the flooring tight to the door threshold, what would have happened when the floor expanded? I was afraid it would push the door frame out. The flooring was laid parallel to the door threshold.
Similarly, if I butt the right angle boards up tight to the main part of the floor, what happens when the floor expands. There is no place for it to move. It seems like there would have to be some kind of expansion joint at the transition.
Cyrus