Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Sep 29, 2009 3:09 pm We are building a new house and will be laying brushbox tongue and groove floorboards secret nailed to ply on a concrete slab. The room size is 9 x 8 metres (open plan kitchen, dining, family room). Because of the size we have been told that we need to have expansion gaps when the floor is laid. Normally this is done with cork but apparently it will need to run right through the centre of the room which I think will wreck the look of the floor. Apparently we can also have a 1.5mm gap every metre or so. Has anyone seen this done? Does it look OK? Are there any other options at all? Re: Timber flooring expansion gaps 3Sep 29, 2009 5:33 pm The BCA does specify expansion gaps every 6 metres. I have never known anyone to do this, builder or otherwise. Its no surprise as who wants a cork strip or similar across the middle of a floor. Re: Timber flooring expansion gaps 4Sep 29, 2009 8:19 pm [quote][quote="borg"]have you got a floor plan? Is the floor actually fully 8 meters by 9 meters all the way? Does an island bench or similar break this up in any way. I haven't posted before and I'm not sure how to put the floor plan on but the room is 9.6m x 8.1m with a 1.8m long island bench. Because of the way the bench runs and the fact that it is positioned off centre I don't think we can try to hide the expansion joint under the bench. I haven't explained this very well but I will try and work out how to load pictures on. Re: Timber flooring expansion gaps 5Sep 30, 2009 9:40 am Hey Tracey given the information provided I would if it works out cosmetically forget about the expansion joints but make sure that your boards run the length of the longer side. I say this because there is less(minimal if that) expansion in the length of the boards. It is usually in the width. Re: Timber flooring expansion gaps 6Sep 30, 2009 1:30 pm I would much prefer the risk of boards buckling than a cork strip any day. When it comes to expansion joints (be it brick walls, timber flooring, etc), my research shows that they are over conservative. Wouldn't it be interesting if owners insisted on less exapnsion joints and then sued the company if there was no cracking or buckling! Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Timber flooring expansion gaps 7Sep 30, 2009 6:01 pm Yes a crystal ball would be nice! We have decided to definately not go with the cork strip- I think it will look awful. Now we just have to decide whether to go with the gaps instead and hope they close up over time as they expand or risk it and not do anything. Will take your advice Borg about running the boards with the longest side- thanks. Re: Timber flooring expansion gaps 8Sep 30, 2009 8:05 pm Keep in mind the boards can just as easily contract as they can expand. Acclimatise the boards first for a couple of week in the room they are being laid in. Engineering timber is certainly a less fuss option, times cheaper to supply and install and better withstands humidity. 1 11508 Not expansion foam, but a expansion joint foam. Two very different products. And it should be installed and wrapped around your storm water penetrations where the… 1 3349 I would suggest get legal representation. Sorry but the fact is QBCC is not anyone's friend, other than their own! Further by lodging a complaint (subject to which… 10 14986 |