Solid wood floor, expansion gap or no?
Nathar
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
My understanding was that you always leave a 1/4″ expansion gap around a wood floor – between the wood floor and the wall. Then, you put the baseboard down on top of the wood floor – covering the gap, but still allowing the wood to expand underneath. However, my contractor – who has installed many more wood floors than I’ll ever do – is quite adamant that you don’t leave an expansion gap for a solid wood floor. Who is right?
Replies
It depends...
...in the arid west (Colorado), we put them in tight.
In more humid locations, the expansion gap is more important...especially without A/C.
I always leave a gap as well, but I have laid flooring in situations where the ends but into an exposed interior concrete wall with no base, so there was no option but to run them tight. These floors have had no noticeable issues from expansion, but I still leave a gap when I can. I have done this with beech and bamboo, but other woods may have more of a problem with it.
Do what the manufacturer requires so the wqarranty is valid.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
If the base hides the ends, I can't think of why you wouldn't leave a gap. It's a lot easier than trying to fit it in tight.
When in doubt, leave a gap. You have nothing to lose. I have seen many floors buckle w/o the gap. You don't want to know how much I charged to repair this floor.
"It is what it is."