Expansion Gaps In New Plywood Subfloor Missing
sequoia_2007
14 years ago
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14 years agosunnyca_gw
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Hardwood installation - No expansion gap or something else?
Comments (11)Thank you so much, everyone, for all your comments so far! I was supposed to receive emails for follow-up posts so I apologize for the delay. It's amazing but while shopping for my hardwood floors, I visited several floor stores and only one had mentioned that installing hardwood floors over plywood in a hi-rise condo is not the best approach to installing hardwood floors but in fact engineered wood is the way to go. Someone2010: Thanks so much for your advise but could you clarify? I would be willing to send him a registered letter and take him to small claims court but what exactly would he be fixing? Would he come back to create an expansion gap (even though the expansion gap wouldn't resolve the buckling issue), refund the cost of installation, or refund the cost of installation and the material so I can replace it with engineered floors (and through another installer of course)? idrive65: I could get into other things that he has said and done to me but he clearly does not know how to respect women. Brickeye: I'm not sure if I understand what you mean. Could you explain what "grade" you're referring to? Since my first post, my floor guy has tried to counterattack by threatening to send a list of extraneous costs. If I have already completed payment with him, does he have any right to send me an extra bill? I have already requested his extra bill and will now start the process of documenting the case for court. I have a long battle ahead of me. I would like to complete this project before the year ends so I have a new contractor that has suggested removing the boards that run parallel to the wall and reinstalling pieces that allow for the 3/4" expansion gap. On the boards that run perpendicular to the wall, he has suggested cutting them to create the gap. Since small claims court will delay this project considerably, is it wise to have my current contractor fix the problems now and try to bill my floor guy later? We need to move in soon. Thanks again for all the input and suggestions! Thanks so much again for all the feedback....See MoreDoes plank T&G subfloor need gaps between planks?
Comments (4)If you are asking about gaps the length of the boards, than they may be required depending on the moisture content of the wood. A lot of it is damp enough it will shrink in use, but making a mistake of butting dry wood can result in buckling in the summer when the humidity is higher. Sub floors are routinely left with larger gaps than the finished floor, since it does little harm and a mistake is so bad. The finished floor needs careful attention to acclimating and the season of the year. In summer you can acclimate and install a little more snug than in winter. The boards are GOING to shrink during heating season and expand during cooling season. Al the nails and finishing the world will not stop this. Wood moves as its moisture content changes. Attempts to try and hold it will result in splitting or buckling....See MoreHow to seal big gaps in concrete / plywood subfloor
Comments (5)look like 2x8s to me (7-1/4) could be 2x6. Definately something to check. The cast iron looks like its on its last leg and you have galvinized pipes for water supply (thats probably nearing its lifespan also, they rot out from the inside cant tell from the outside all the time)...See MoreInstall 3/4" hardwood with small expansion gap in summer?
Comments (14)When hardwood is installed should be no less than one half inch around walls if drywall is up high enough and it is half inch drywall you can keep it even with wall. At doorways use quarterround to cover gap. I would recommend also use one half cork spacers and set them in the gap and set hardwood against it when hardwood expands cork will give and when shrinks the cork will expand back kinda like a spring. This will keep your wood in the feild areas to stay together from winter and summer effects. 40 years ago i started in a shop and hardwood installers did it this way and we did many subdivisions back in those days and worked all year round here in St. Louis and was a union company. I feel the old timers new what the were doing. My brother-in-law did his house with hardwood this way 42 years ago and he still on the same floor just sanded and finished it once....See Moresequoia_2007
14 years agoalphonse
14 years agobrickeyee
14 years agoalphonse
14 years agobrickeyee
14 years agoalphonse
14 years agoworthy
14 years agobrickeyee
14 years agoalphonse
14 years agorwiegand
8 years ago
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