Home Laminate Flooring What Size Expansion Gap Is Required for Laminate Flooring?

What Size Expansion Gap Is Required for Laminate Flooring?

by Viena Swierczek
Published: Updated: 92 comments 3 minutes read

When it comes to installing laminate flooring, an expansion gap is crucial. To ensure the longevity and stability of your floor, it is recommended to have a minimum expansion gap of ¼ inch around the perimeter of the floor. In fact, installation experts suggest that the size of the gap should increase as the surface area of the floor does, allowing for the necessary expansion and contraction with temperature changes.

Why Does Laminate Flooring Need an Expansion Gap

Laminate flooring is a floating floor, meaning it is not attached to the sub-floor and rests on top of the underlayment. Without an expansion gap, your floor will lack the necessary space to accommodate these movements, putting it at risk of issues like buckling. Don’t take any chances – keep reading to find out more about the importance of an expansion gap for your laminate flooring installation.

What Happens If I Don’t Leave an Expansion Gap?

To prevent damage to your laminate flooring, it is crucial to have the correct expansion gap. Without it, the floor will not be able to expand freely and adjust to temperature changes, leading to buckling, gapping, squeaking, and irreversible damage.

To achieve the correct size of the expansion gap, we recommend using installation spacers from an installation kit. These spacers should be placed between planks and the wall to provide the required expansion space. Spacers will also help ensure that the gap size is consistent throughout your installation. Please refer to the installation instructions included with your flooring for important guidance on installing your floor. Keep in mind that different floors may require a larger gap.

It’s important to note that the expansion gap should also be maintained in front of built-in cabinets, fireplaces, pipes, pillars, transition moldings, or any other object permanently attached to your floor.

How Do I Cover the Expansion Gap?

In most cases, your moldings will fit perfectly and cover the gap. To achieve a seamless finished look, we recommend installing a shoe molding or quarter round at the bottom of your baseboard. Be sure to nail all moldings to the wall or other moldings, and never to the flooring planks, to allow for expansion and contraction.

When installing your flooring, it’s important to ensure that your moldings are wide enough to fully cover the expansion gap. Having a gap that’s too big can cause problems and affect the stability of your flooring, potentially leading to bowing or warping over time. It can also be unappealing if the gap is visible from the edges of the room. Furthermore, a large gap can make cleaning more difficult as it can trap dirt and debris. So, it’s crucial to choose the right moldings to ensure a seamless appearance and easy maintenance.

Learn More: Types of Moldings for Laminate Flooring Installation

By following these guidelines and ensuring you have the proper expansion gap, you can protect your laminate flooring and avoid costly replacements.

Do you have more questions about laminate flooring installation? We will be happy to help! Post your question in a comments below!

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92 comments

Martha May 18, 2019 - 12:42 am

Would 1/2 or 1 inch be too much of a gap on sides of the wall if error were made when cutting planks.

Reply
Alana Kane May 19, 2019 - 9:43 pm

Hi Martha, no, a .5 inch gap will be fine. You will just need to check that your molding will cover the gap.

Reply
Shara Noble February 27, 2019 - 5:37 pm

I received two quotes from two different flooring companies for installing laminate flooring in my house. One company is charging $3.49 per sqft for Unifloor Swiss Aura laminate and the other is charging only $2.99 per sqft. Can these companies just charge anything they like? How can I find out what the real price is per sqft?

Reply
Alana Kane March 1, 2019 - 1:26 pm

Hi Shara, thanks for your question. When you are getting quotes with installation included, a company may charge differently for installation which is reflected in the price. To find the real price, I would look online or in a store without installation and see what he sqft would be. You can compare flooring costs with installation included or see what the price of buying the floor on your own and paying for installation would cost.

Reply
Shara Noble February 22, 2019 - 11:27 am

Hi, how much expansion gap do I need to leave between the floor and the baseboard for my room that is 368 sqft.?

Reply
Alana Kane February 22, 2019 - 2:17 pm

Hi Shara, the standard .25″ gap will be fine for your project!

Reply
Shara Noble February 22, 2019 - 5:04 pm

Thank you, Alana.

Reply
Peter Moorcroft January 29, 2019 - 1:01 pm

What expansion do I need to leave in a room 15m?x10m

Reply
Alana Kane January 31, 2019 - 2:41 pm

Hi Peter, you can use .25″ expansion gap for your project! If you have any other questions, let us know.

Reply
Lawrence Holmes January 11, 2019 - 8:04 am

Hi there, my understanding is that ideally you should allow for around 10mm expansion gap on all sides of the room. Our dining room is 2.7 metres wide with skirting board on the one side and fixed floor units on the other side. If we allow for a say 10-12 mm gap under the skirting board, would we still have to allow for a similar gap on the other side or could the flooring be fitted up flush to the units. ?
Appreciate your advice
regards

Reply
Tyler January 19, 2019 - 9:35 am

Hello, all sides of the flooring need to have a quarter inch gap between it and the wall.

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