I have heard that instead of removing the skirting boards and refitting, it is also not unusual to leave the skirting in place, leave an expansion gap, and hide it by fitting 1/2" quadrant beading to the skirting. Not for the perfectionists though!
Andy.
I've done a search on google groups and can't find an answer so....
I want to use some real wood flooring - the type that fits together like laminate but is solid wood so can be sanded and varnished. Anyone used some? Does it need a 10mm expansion gap around the room or can it be fitted snug to the walls?
TIA
Yes, I'm in the process of laying some in four rooms.
10mm expansion gap, just like laminate. You'll need to remove skirting, fit floor with expansion gap, and refit skirting for best results.Oh, and if you haven't already chosen the flooring, I can highly recommend getting the interlocking variety (e.g. Kahrs). Being a cheapskate, I chose some plain tongue and grooved boards that need to be glued, and while it's not a major job, it's certainly a lot slower to lay them...
I chose some plain tongue and grooved boards that need to be
Glue? Are you saying that you glue t+g wooden boards together. By 'eck, the job's changed since I were a youngster! We used to secret nail or cut clasp (if the floor were to be covered) Showing me age I suppose. Nick.
I used Kahrs, and it needs that expansion gap. Use either skirting or a cork strip.
It came pre-finished.
It isn't 'solid' wood, its a mahined ply with a thick hardwood veneer.
I used Bruce Coastal Woodlands 10mm thick boards with a 2mm hardwood top layer, which can be sanded and re-finished in future if necessary. The glued T&G installation was tedious because it needed a lot of hammering to get tight joints - in fact the plastic tapping block was wrecked by the time I was half way through, and it was easy to bruise the edges once the block was worn. End board joints are still visible to me, but everyone who sees it says how good the finished job looks. I'm not sure I'd use it again, but maybe the problem's peculiar to Bruce boards. I took the skirtings off and refitted them over the expansion gap, by the way.
Rob
Not floorboards... engineered wooden flooring, laid as a floating floor on underlay over a concrete screed. And at the price, I'd have to be nuts to cover it with anything :-)
When I said 'plain' I meant that the t+g was plain, instead of the interlocking design used on most engineered and laminate floors these days. Although, since some of it's in a kitchen area, I think the sealing effect of the glue will better protect against the inevitable small spills.
Thanks folks. Skirting boards/architrave off already so ready to go...
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