The question “does engineered wood flooring require an expansion gap?” is a question which is frequently asked by anyone investing in engineered wood flooring in the UK for the first time. While a professional fitter will look after all the requirements of your engineered wood flooring installation, if you are planning a DIY engineered wood flooring installation, it’s well worth checking things out carefully.
Wood is a natural product and as such expands and contracts with changes in moisture and temperature. Solid wood, as the name suggests is made from one single piece of wood and is highly susceptible to expansion and contraction due to atmospheric changes. Although engineered wood flooring is made from a combination of plywood and a solid oak lamella or top layer, it still suffers some expansion and contraction with atmospheric fluctuations.
So, while engineered wood flooring withstands temperature and moisture changes much better than solid wood, you should still anticipate a small element of expansion and contraction. As a result, when it comes to installing engineered wood flooring you must leave an expansion gap, otherwise you could come up against severe problems in the future.
Expansion gaps should be left wherever the floor comes up against a fixed object, for example, next to a wall, a doorway or a heating pipe. A general rule of thumb is that you should allow 1cm to 1.5cm expansion gap all around the room and wherever there is a fixed object. There are also guidelines for large rooms, which recommend an expansion gap allowance for (on average) every 12 metres of length and 8 metres of width. That said, if you are in any doubt about how much of an expansion gap and how often an expansion gap should be left when fitting your engineered wood flooring, you should seek the advice of an expert. Extra time invested in planning at the start of the project will save nasty surprises and problems later in the day.
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FAQ
1. Does engineered wood flooring require an expansion gap?
Yes, engineered wood flooring requires an expansion gap. Although engineered wood flooring withstands temperature and moisture changes better than solid wood, a small degree of expansion and contraction can occur due to atmospheric fluctuations. Hence, an expansion gap is necessary to prevent potential problems in the future.
2. What causes the need for an expansion gap in engineered wood flooring?
The need for an expansion gap arises due to the natural tendency of wood to expand and contract with changes in moisture and temperature. While engineered wood flooring, which is made from a combination of plywood and a solid oak lamella or top layer, handles these changes better than solid wood, it still experiences some degree of expansion and contraction.
3. Where should expansion gaps be left during the installation of engineered wood flooring?
Expansion gaps should be left wherever the floor comes into contact with a fixed object. For example, next to a wall, a doorway, or a heating pipe.
4. How big should the expansion gap be for engineered wood flooring?
A general rule of thumb is to allow a 1cm to 1.5cm expansion gap all around the room and wherever there is a fixed object. For large rooms, an expansion gap should be allowed for every 12 meters of length and 8 meters of width on average.
5. Who can I consult if I’m unsure about the size and frequency of expansion gaps for my engineered wood flooring?
If you are in any doubt about how much of an expansion gap and how often an expansion gap should be left when fitting your engineered wood flooring, you should seek the advice of an expert.