[A/S] Re: floating floors

[Chris Koehn <timberguides@xxxxxxxxx>]

Steve et al-

Floating floors "float" to accommodate seasonal expansion and 
contraction due to seasonal changes in moisture levels related to 
humidity. Where I'm from in WI (humid summers and arid winters), 
traditional nail down wood flooring would develop gaps between the 
boards in the winter when the humidity is low. Since floating floors 
are designed to fit snugly together and to not develop gaps, the 
seasonal movement must be taken up somewhere. In a residential 
application, floating floor is typically installed with a 1/2" gap 
between the flooring and the wall. The baseboard then covers the gap, 
and allows for some expansion and contraction below.

Since most floating floor is more stable than solid hardwood (because 
it's either cross laminated like plywood or more plastic content than 
wood- such as Pergo etc) it experiences less movement than wood would 
anyhow.
Since our Airstreams are relatively small compared to the usual 
residential space, expansion and contraction is so minimal with 
floating floors I believe it's not really a consideration. So I would 
say you can run it under cabinets and gauchos, etc, and not worry about 
it.

I put a cork floating floor in my 31' Sovereign. The click lock tongue 
and groove system was very easy to work with, but it does require some 
room to assemble.  I first established a reference line down the middle 
of the trailer longitudinally. I then spent some time figuring how to 
best install the planks to minimize waste and cutting. I chose to start 
at the front door and work across and down. I removed the gaucho, but 
no other cabinetry. I screwed the gaucho back down through the cork. 
The curbside wall, which was abutted by the last course of flooring, 
required moulding to cover the gap left by the room needed to assemble 
the tongue and groove. I chose to mill my own shoe from walnut to match 
cabinetry. My entertainment center has an "S" shaped front; I trimmed 
against that by laminating 1/16" strips of wood and clamping to the 
cabinet to get them to take the shape.

Regards,

Chris K.
#8638
1979 Int'l Sov.
Currently writing near Aylmer, Ontario, on the way to VA via PA via 
WI...