Question:

Good morning Les, hope you can help me out here. We have purchased Beaulieu Canada 14mm laminate flooring, 3.5" wide by 4' long, V-shaped edge boards. It looks awesome, the look is a lot more hardwood like than standard low price laminate floor. I am going to be installing this in the basement, on top of a DRICore subfloor (entire surface of the basement). The basement is 43' wide x 26' deep. The 43' wide wall will be divided in a family room 31' wide and a bedroom 12' wide. The instructions state that an expansion gap/joint is required for any room larger than 33' wide. I understand that this is the official word from the manufacturer, my question is: Is this totally required? If I do not put a gap is this a real cause for problems? The look of the floor will, in our opinion, be "killed" by an expansion joint (bump) in the floor.... I could always put it in the doorway to reduce the eye impact but if I could I would like to not have such expansion gap. Can I get your opinion? I can send a drawing of the basement to help you visualize the set up.... Thanks

Answer:

You will need to an expansion joint for an area of this size because there will be movement in the product in basement application.Since the area is being divided in two then the installation of of a T-moulding in the doorway will take care of the requirement.I will add that all doorways,when installing laminates, require a T-moulding or there is a very good chance that the boards will come apart.Also don't forget you will need a vapour over that Dricore subfloor,use a pad that has the vapour barrier built in to save time.

Answered By: Les Galko

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