Laminate bamboo install
#1
10-10-16, 04:40 PM
Laminate bamboo install
the bamboo laminate click loc at HD said in the documentation that you should keep 1/2 inch all around. Everyone says that is baloney and 1/4 is correct.What do you use??
#2
10-10-16, 06:10 PM
Member
100% sure it's not 1/2" total, 1/4" on a side?
I agree 1/2" sounds like way to much, and would be hard to hide.
I've always left 1/4" and never had a floor buckel.
I agree 1/2" sounds like way to much, and would be hard to hide.
I've always left 1/4" and never had a floor buckel.
#3
10-10-16, 06:23 PM
Member
If you remove the baseboard molding before the install the base plus the shoe will more than cover the gap left. If you are lazy and leave the baseboard in, then you have no choice but to use quarter round molding which looks chunky. I shoot for 3/8" myself. Also understand that the floor may "walk" a little during install so check your gaps on all sides often during the install.
#4
10-10-16, 06:34 PM
Member
Only installed a few dozen laminate floors but I've never removed a baseboard to install one for a few reasons.
At least 99% of the homes I've worked on in the past 40 plus years have 1/4 round, from new homes to 100 plus year old homes.
Removing the baseboards would require far more work, possible wall damage, breaking the base, caulking, and paint touch up.
Plus what do you do later when someone wants to change the flooring?
Plus I've never once seen a perfectly flat floor, 1/4 round will bend to fit tight, base will not.
At least 99% of the homes I've worked on in the past 40 plus years have 1/4 round, from new homes to 100 plus year old homes.
Removing the baseboards would require far more work, possible wall damage, breaking the base, caulking, and paint touch up.
Plus what do you do later when someone wants to change the flooring?
Plus I've never once seen a perfectly flat floor, 1/4 round will bend to fit tight, base will not.
#5
10-11-16, 06:22 AM
Member
My suggestion was to re-install base plus shoe, not just go with base molding. Personally I hate 1/4 round it looks hunky and screams inferior install, but that is just me.
90% of base molding is painted white and the added thickness of the flooring will have you re-installing the base above the old caulk line. Simply pulling a nice white caulk line finished off the job nicely. For those installs where the base is stained, no caulk line is needed. It may be a little more work, but I think it always makes the floor look like it was put in before the trim/doors and is more original to the room than the other way around.
90% of base molding is painted white and the added thickness of the flooring will have you re-installing the base above the old caulk line. Simply pulling a nice white caulk line finished off the job nicely. For those installs where the base is stained, no caulk line is needed. It may be a little more work, but I think it always makes the floor look like it was put in before the trim/doors and is more original to the room than the other way around.
#6
10-11-16, 07:49 AM
I have the 3/8" bamboo engineered flooring in our bedroom. Unlike laminate flooring, the interior of the planks are HDF, with a handscraped finish. Super hard, wears well, and quick to install. I left our base and replaced the 1/4 round with shoe. Leaving 3/8" gap was sufficient.
