Why Laminate Flooring Needs Expansion Gaps

An expansion gap gives a floating laminate floor room for small dimensional changes as the room conditions change. The gap is needed at walls, pipes, thresholds, columns and other fixed objects, and its size and detailing must follow the instructions for the specific collection.

What happens when the perimeter is trapped

When an edge cannot move, stresses transfer into the locking joints and the centre of the floor. Planks can lift, creak or separate. The problem may appear only after a seasonal change or after heavy furniture is moved into the room.

Where to inspect the gap

• Along every wall, including behind doors and fitted cabinets.
• Around heating and plumbing pipes.
• At thresholds, columns, fireplaces and other fixed details.
• At transitions into adjoining rooms, where a profile or separate movement detail may be required.

How the edge is finished

A baseboard hides the perimeter but should be fixed to the wall or a separate support rather than clamping the flooring. Use suitable pipe roses and transition details. Do not fill the entire edge with rigid mortar or foam unless the flooring system specifically allows it.

Finding a trapped edge in an installed floor

Remove the baseboard at the suspected area and look for contact with the wall, wedges, fixings, mortar or a pipe. If the floor has already lifted, removing the obstruction may not restore it; inspect the planks and locks after opening the area.

Do not confuse an expansion gap with a joint gap

The perimeter gap is hidden at the wall. A gap between planks is a separate connection or geometry problem and needs different diagnosis. Widening the wall gap will not repair a separating joint in the middle of the floor.