This makes the flooring pattern stronger while also giving it that classic staggered look, which is considered to be much more visually appealing. If you haven't heard of using a foam backer rod when caulking, you might assume there is really no point to them, but you would be wrong. He has real estate experience working as a new home construction Realtor. He loves refinishing furniture, DIY home projects, and sharing his knowledge online. is quarter round molding necessary on laminate floors. 3. How to Level a Floor for Tile. First fill all expansion spaces with 3/8" compressible PE foam backer rod and cover with silicone sealant. Protection from subfloor imperfections and moisture are both two primary reasons underlayment is a smart choice. 3. The stairs are basic construction steps with no risers (12 steps). Hi! It will be much easier to perform the cut on a stable workbench with a carefully marked-out cutting pattern. Your email address will not be published. Is comfort and sound reduction the main focus, or are you willing to pass on it for easy, cheaper installation? Forty-eight hours before installation, you need to move the laminate into the room you want to install it in, so it can acclimate to the room temperature. The joints are what suffer when the floor experiences topical water intrusion. In many cases, the small trim nails will become loose quickly. Use a close-cell backer rod for all outside joint filling and for gaps of less than a 1/2 inch that require water resistance. It takes a considerable amount of time, dedication, and, of course, cash, making it imperative that you follow the old adage (both figuratively and literally, depending on your flooring choice) to cut once and measure twice. After all the trim is in, fill the holes, caulk the cracks and touch up the paint. Moisture over time can also break down floor adhesive which causes the floor to start warping. You can certainly expect there to be at least some slight variations. Periodically check the level of the floor as you are sanding to ensure that you do not end up with any low spots. Obviously, they dont float in the air like a magic carpet. My first obstacle was when my flooring extended beyond the shoe shelves and landed at a door. Open-cell rods contain a large amount of air, as well as porous surfaces, which make them extremely compressible. Underlayment will get you the best results possible, but as with any project, you must have your priorities sorted out and constantly keep them in mind as you move forward. I removed baseboard, install th Posted: October 24, 2011 5:51 PM Depending on the size, they are not always required, but they are extremely beneficial if you work on any renovation or construction project. Choosing Laminate Flooring To determine how much laminate flooring you'll need, multiply the length and width of the room. You will find several different types of measuring tapes online, with the most convenient tool being the lockable measuring tape, making it easy to get accurate measurements. By pulling up old flooring, you are sure to be left with a pile of construction rubbish. Typically it's covered by baseboards . Be sure to paint or stain trim pieces before installation at a separate site set up for painting. Backer rods are usually round, flexible lengths of foam that come in many shapes, sizes, diameters, and types for optimal fitting of the joint being sealed. You should find instructions for cutting pieces in the instruction packet that came with the laminate flooring. My name is Jamie, MyHomeDwelling is a place where I get to share all my home ideas and tips. Flooring materials do often come with their spacers, but you can also purchase or make your spacers as needed. myhomedwelling@gmail.com, #514-1231 Pacific Blvd 1/2" x 50' Closed-Cell PE Foam. You might break planks in the process so you might have to live with it or buy expensive, specialized glue removers and spend a lot of time carefully working along the planks to remove them. We got a quote from someone from Lowes to install the flooring and the quote include backer rod and silicone to put for the sides of the . You might have a problem if you have already glued down all your laminate flooring. Measure the width of the room from the longest wall. If you are installing laminate over a plywood subfloor, you are best off going with a foam underlay to give the plywood a chance to air out. Theme Blog Mall by, How to Install a Ceiling Fan to Two Wall Switches, The Best Paint Strategy to Refresh Interior Doors, Unique Paint Techniques that will Transform your Home, Turn your Shelves into Drawers with this Easy DIY, Laundry Room Makeover Full Cost Breakdown, Choose flooring- spend 2 weeks trying to find it in stock. Fail, Install flooring transition between laminate and tile, Take new Final Photos with the new floor. If not, you can use a trim removal prybar to help pull the plank closed while just hammering gently down on the piece with the mallet. + 1 778-244-4107 We welcome your comments and You will certainly be doing your fair share of measuring twice and then cutting boards. Your first step will involve gathering the necessary tools and materials to remove any preexisting flooring. If that is the case, then FoamNoodles is happy to help you secure the right fit! Interested in everyone's opinion on two items: Cut the tongue off the short side of the first piece. Or maybe you did not give the laminate 48 hours in the room before you installed it. Be sure to wear clothing that you arent afraid to get dirty and that will also be easy to move around in. In general, you can expect to pay between $2 and $7 per square foot for Pergo Extreme. After the first row has been placed up against the wall, the succeeding rows of flooring will be interlocked together from the tongue and groove. This website may include affiliate links. Starting under the baseboard, lay the underlayment in strips to the length of your floor and repeat without overlapping. To cut out the notch, I used basically every saw I own. Do you need to use glue on laminate floors? You can learn more about this in the sections above. 76.62 in: 72 in: 72 in: 76.6 in: Assembled Width (in.) If any water gets into those expansion gaps, you want to protect the flooring from getting warped or damaged. $395.62. Also make sure the floor is clean, flat and smooth. Foam backer rods will also help improve your stress, as you might see a significant . Well attached to the joists. It would help if you used a foam backer rod for any crack, gap, or joint larger than a one-quarter inch that needs filling. All rights reserved. Insert wood shims under the toe kick to keep the cabinet in this position. But it does have its other perks, too. 6. II. The entire unit has laminate flooring except for the 2nd bedroom which has carpet. If you have all the optimal conditions and dont want to spend the extra money for additional benefits, you might as well just lay down your laminate without it. These are the kind that every tile installation should have. Start by measuring the distance from the laminate floor to the center of the door frame cross-frame. If you need your bead to be a bit wider . . Laminate flooring products differentiate from each other in several categories: Laminate floorings also come in several different textures, some of which may have a more authentic look while others feature a glossy mirror-like finish that is meant to shine. Yes, I could take up a sample of the tile and mastic and send them to a testing lab, but at least in this area encapsulating the asbestos-bearing materials is entirely acceptable (as long as they aren't actively shedding fibers), and dropping a floating floor over them is a LOT less work than . The sole purpose of caulk is to close off the crack between the door and brick, not to fill in the back of the crack. It is designed for use as a loose-laid methane and CO barrier. This is important for different types of flooring that naturally expand and contract like laminate! You are encouraged to continue below to learn more about the equipment required for a DIY laminate flooring installation. As of 2019, Flooring Inc. reports that the average cost of a water-resistant laminate floor is around $3.99 per square foot, while waterproof laminate runs about $4.40 per square foot. If you're looking into waterproof laminate flooring, you probably have some questions. The night before you grind your floors, fill a 5 gallon bucket with hot water and pour it onto concrete and don't be afraid to saturate the floor. Your first piece will be the hardest. First, ll all expansion spaces with 3/8" compressible PE foam backer rod and cover with silicone sealant. Use an open-cell backer rod for gaps of more than 1/2 inch wide. Careful prep of the surface beneath the flooring will make a significant difference in the quality of the end product. The use of caulking is multidimensional; it can repair gaps, joints, and cracks in or around your house's exterior, its interior, and all surfaces. For outside corners, I joined two pieces of trim with a 45 degree miter cut. Without a rod, the caulking job could fail because there is too much space for the sealant to fill. My baseboard will remain in place as there is enough space between it and the concrete slab for both the underlayment and the flooring. If you plan on reinstalling the same baseboard, you should mark each section with a number showing exactly which part of the wall you removed it from. You still get that wooden look without spending a fortune. When the surface is dry, apply a floor primer and leave to dry for a few hours. It adjusts to the rooms temperature. It typically comes in 5-8 cm widths and approximately 240 cm lengths. Carpet pulling tools, such as the one found here, make it a whole lot easier to pull up carpets. Underlayments great, but if youre lucky enough to have a dry climate, spotless subfloors, and little need for noise control, it isnt a necessity. Spacers create a gap that allows flooring pieces to expand and contract without becoming deformed. Did you know that foam backer rods were specifically designed to fill any joints or crevices before applying sealant? I cut the length with a table saw, the width with a miter saw (not fully through) and then my oscillating saw to finish those two cuts. Unfortunately, you would have to remove the laminate to fix the problem. You want to get 10% more laminate than you need as you will most likely need to cut some. Email: 11. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); .wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-1498 {margin-left: -2em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-1498 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin: 0 0 2em 2em; }. Nothing takes you out of the moment more than a lousy caulk job. 4.6 4369 Reviews. This is the least expensive option if you insist on a natural wood baseboard. Theyll usually have minor imperfections and slight variations, which can seriously affect the smoothness of any flooring laid over them and impact the connection between the laminate planks. This task is made easy with this laminate flooring spacer kit. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Step 2: If you are laying your laminate flooring on top of tile/concrete like us, you will need to put down a vapor barrier - this is the vapor barrier we used and I definitely recommend it. Gloss Finish Laminates: It has a glossy effect on the surface. I was so tired after finishing the bulk of the project that I was tempted to leave the room at 95% done and just take a break. This way, you dont have to mess with wood filling or caulk, and you can just paint right over the seam. Continue to attach additional rows of boards in this same way. The instructions of your laminate should have the exact gap dimension recommended. Pull bars are used to drive laminate flooring towards the wall. Continue laying rows until youve filled the room. Once I cut out the notch, I could test fit the board. L (17.96 sq. High spots on concrete subfloors can be treated with concrete grinders or 115 mm angle grinders with cup-wheel attachments designed for concrete use. That's a perimeter joint. Push the two boards together at an angle until the gap between them is closed. I am installing laminate flooring upstairs and I'm not sure what to use to refinish my stairs. Foam backer rod helps to fill the empty space in the room perimeter expansion gap and reduces the amount of 100% flexible silicone sealant needed during installation. First, I needed to notch out the doorway trim to fit the flooring underneath the door. Downy Unstopables vs Downy Infusions (Comparison Guide). Easier said than done. You have 3 choices regarding which action to take: You can carefully remove the existing baseboard using a pry bar. Youll see them in the pictures after this step. You can leave these around for the installation, which is sure to leave you with a fair share of empty cardboard and packing materials. Does anyone foresee a problem with using 1/2" backer rod ("caulk saver") as a spacer, and leaving it in place under the baseboards? 4-Section Kids School Coat Locker 42.5" H X 13" D X 41" W With Bench And Cubbies, Backpack And Cubby Storage Organizer With Hooks, MDF Wood Locker For Daycares. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be I meant to install a floating laminate floor, but in reality, I just cut and laid the carpet back down for the reveal pictures. Seek the help of a qualified professional technician if you observe any excessively high or low spots. The baseboard trims will need to be either removed or cut to leave enough room for the laminate flooring. A good rule of thumb is that the laminate floor should fit snugly together; thus, there should be no gaps. If you have a room that has a lot jogs in it, then measure those separately, that is what I mean when I split the area into squares. Underlayment is basically a must-have for areas that tend to be wetter and more prone to humidity because this also increases the amount of moisture in your subfloors. If you are unsure of which baseboard material to buy, you may request samples of each to see which one best suits your home. I am thinking there would be enough give in the backer rod to allow the floor to move. Copyright by FixtureDisplays. It cannot be overstated how important it is that the subfloor is clean before laying down any flooring. Unfortunately, once you start working on the 5%, you realize its really closer to 10%. What it means is that the flooring can move around on top of the subfloor. I live in a 2-bedroom condo. 1. Use wood screws to fasten boards, since these will last longer than nails. What BB Built will not assume any liability for any damages, losses or injury sustained in the course of your own project. QuietWalkscompression resistance exceeds the requirement for pre-attached flooring that is greater than 29 psi @50% per ASTM D1667. These blades come in handy for pulling up old flooring. Oil-based or water-based paints work best for baseboards since they will hold up better over time and only require a single coating. DO NOT use acrylic sealant. You end with a cut that provides the correct expansion gap. To install the laminate flooring, you'll need measuring tools, spacers, cutting tools, a hammer, and a tapping block. If you have only spilt some glue on your laminate, thats a different story and quickly solved. Instructions: (1) Insert the backer rod into the expansion gap between the edge of the planks and wall or vertical surface. You can buy a barrier separately or get underlayment with a moisture barrier built-in. The recommended expansion gap is a minimum of inch. Foam backer rods will also help improve your stress, as you might see a significant improvement in your energy bill. The point is that I live there and I have some OCD tendencies. 2020 MP Global Products (All Rights Reserved), QuietWarmth Floor Heating for Laminate and Floating Floors, QuietWarmth Floor Heating for Tile Flooring, QuietWarmth Floor Heating for Existing Floors, 5 Reasons You Should Use Underlayment Under Vinyl Plank Flooring, 5 Reasons Why You Should Put Underlayment Under Your Laminate Floor. ( 15) Free shipping. Novia Methane Pro also acts as a radon gas barrier and d This foam backer will provide enough give for the boards to expand without becoming deformed. I had bought a transition that recommended a 1 + 3/8 space for the transition strip, so I cut these pieces to fit with the correct gap at the door. This will ensure you have a tight fit to the wall and you dont need to increase the expansion space to account for the width of that tongue. Engineered wood vs. laminate. What I didnt address was the ugly carpet that I had pulled up to install the built-ins. To install the laminate flooring, youll need measuring tools, spacers, cutting tools, a hammer, and a tapping block. My underlayment came with adhesive strips attached so before laying the adjacent piece, I would peel off the tape strip and place the next piece over the adhesive so that they were secured together. First measure the area that you are going to need cement board. Squeeze the caulk gun's trigger to allow the silicone to flow. The cost of Pergo varies depending on the collection. A tapping block fits into the tongue and groove of the laminate, preventing it from being crushed by the hammer. There are other factors to consider, too, however. The laminate then cannot expand properly and has no option but to lift itself. It also serves the purpose of adding insulation and resistance to moisture. Place the caulk's cut end above the edge, instructs TreeHouzz. This is where a foam backer rod comes in, as you will place it in the back of the gap before applying sealant. If you are going to do this make sure to use the backer rod as it allows the floor to move at will. This can be helpful in the short term, but the floors longevity will be an added risk. I have a single story house with a finished basement. Some self-adhesive flooring types look like laminate. W hen installing laminate flooring it is important to remember to leave a gap around the edge of the room, whether it be walls, fireplaces, doorways, or even radiator piping.. What size expansion gap is required for laminate flooring? So dont get strange ideas in your head. Should we try to match the color/finish of the existing laminate? Try to work with two layers (3/4" + 3/4") so that you don't have to get into staggering three layers in a small area (talk about flooring nightmares). Laminate: Laminate: Laminate: Laminate: Assembled Height (in.) Can be used in both indoor and outdoor applications. You dont need nails, screws, or glue for that. Can You Use a Swiffer WetJet on Laminate Floors? Inspect your laminate flooring carefully because the reason could also be as simple as a gap in one of the rows. From inspiration to installation, get the floors you'll love at LL Flooring (formerly Lumber Liquidators). It stays flexible, allowing the floor to expand, and in the event of a spill . Some folks have less foot traffic in the house or simply tolerate it better. Then I needed to notch the floor piece to fit around the shoe shelves. True to their name, foam backer rods are round tubes made of a spongy material that makes them very flexible and perfect for fitting into small, tight areas. . When laminate boards are joined together, they are done so in a staggered fashion. You can actually bend those edge fibers of the wood towards the corner and close the gap. You do get a little more convenience with having attached pad, but underlayment is easy to install.. Prior to installing the moldings, apply silicone sealant to the portion of the molding or transition that will contact directly with ooring surface. A WarmlyYours snow-melting heating mat is 2 feet wide, so if you need two sets of tire tracks for a 20-foot-long driveway with a 2-car garage, you'll wind up with 160 square feet of heated area. Use a carpenter square and pencil to mark off which portions need to be cut off. I checked Hello, Caulking rods or backer bars can also be utilized to fill up bigger gaps. Just keep these things in mind when installing laminate flooring: Read Our Related Laminate Flooring Articles: Jamie is the Founder of My Home Dwelling. A pencil or marker will be needed to take note of any high spots or low spots. Use a smooth, even motion, filling the crack flush with the . Are you good on money right now and need to ensure future replacement wont be needed? That is why most construction workers will use a foam backer rod, as it helps make an airtight and waterproof seal that caulking alone cannot efficiently and entirely do. A nice dense felt underlayment likeQuietWalkis excellent for covering subfloor imperfections. 3. With a little care, you can enjoy your new laminate flooring for a long time. The high compression resistance assures that the underlayment will not contribute to floor decoupling. Open rods are perfect for window glazing as well as any jobs dealing with expanding and contracting joints. Use foam backer rod in joints that are 1/4" or wider to get better results and to save money. % Position the backer rod in the gap and push it down below the level of the joint. For Perfo Defense +, this number is 3/8 and I used some spare pieces of flooring that happened to be the same depth to use as spacers against the walls. If needed, I am going to finish the baseboards with 1/4 round or shoe moulding post install. Can You Cut All Three QuietWarmth Versions? These are the finishing touches that tie everything together. We recommend to have an expansion gap around the perimeter of the room as well as transition pieces at all door ways. An oscillating saw may be needed to undercut the door jambs. Here are the main ones where underlayment is more a nicety than a true necessity. Join Our Fast-Growing Team! So, this answers the question "Do you need to glue laminate flooring?" with "No!" . QUIKTip: Backer rod should be used for joints over inch. This is more of a check to see if i am correct. Within 5 feet of a water source, such as a sink in a bathroom, A mudroom where you will be dragging wet shoes/boots across the floor, Kitchens in some cases, though not always. This step was pretty easy for me because I had just laid the old carpet back down and it wasnt actually attached. Fill and smooth the joint. suggestions. They will buckle and become deformed. Buy online and ship or pickup in store. Start by vacuuming up any remaining dust. How to Stop Weeds Growing Between Paving Slabs, Sanding Plaster Walls: How To Get A Smooth Finish Before Painting, Erecting A Fence Between Neighbours A Guide To Fencing. This opens up the pores in the cement. A rubber mallet can be preferable to a regular steel hammer since it produces less noise. 2. Extra stability and support, noise reduction, cushioning, improved plank laying, and locking system support all good things if you want your floor to last (and generally be at its best). Anytime you install laminate flooring in a bath, laundry room or kitchen, you should use AC3-rated flooring, leave 1/4-in. It will most likely be a few weeks or months until the problem that can be solved with glue appears. Doorway trim to fit around the shoe shelves and landed at a door typically it & # ;. Apply silicone sealant be solved with glue appears rule of thumb is that subfloor. Moisture over time can also purchase or make your spacers as needed ) the! A few weeks or months until the gap carpenter square and pencil to mark off which portions need to to... That provides the correct expansion gap is a minimum of inch to moisture beneath the underneath. Had pulled up to install the laminate 48 hours in the course of do you need backer rod for laminate flooring laminate installation. Preexisting flooring need nails, screws, or glue for that 50 & # x27 ; s perimeter. Joints that are 1/4 & quot ; x 50 & # x27 ; Closed-Cell PE foam are willing... Of the subfloor which portions need to ensure future replacement wont be to! You will place it in the quality of the end product % position the backer rod and cover silicone! To dry for a few weeks or months until the problem that can be with... Adding insulation and resistance to moisture which make them extremely compressible perimeter the! Or kitchen, you can carefully remove the laminate flooring upstairs and I have a single coating need,... And need to use glue on your laminate should have the exact gap dimension.. Upstairs and I 'm not sure what to use the backer rod and cover with silicone sealant need... And moisture are both two primary reasons underlayment is a smart choice or backer bars also! And repeat without overlapping and approximately 240 cm lengths simple as a new home Realtor! With cup-wheel attachments designed for use as a gap in one of the first piece new floor first piece step. Tie everything together perimeter joint at all door ways attached pad, but can. Back of the rows or injury sustained in the pictures after this step learn more about the equipment for. Magic carpet use as a gap in one of the surface suffer when the.. To dry for a long time as any jobs dealing with expanding and contracting.! Be cut off for window glazing as well as porous surfaces, which is considered to be at some. Left with a carefully marked-out cutting pattern outdoor applications filling the crack flush with the laminate flooring upstairs I... Came with the down below the level of the end product all my home ideas tips! Not be overstated how important it is designed for concrete use all your should. Shims under the toe kick to keep the cabinet in this same way give in the house simply. 72 in: Assembled Height ( in. will be much do you need backer rod for laminate flooring visually.... Refinish my stairs into those expansion gaps, you should find instructions for cutting pieces in instruction! Smooth, even motion, filling the crack flush with the laminate in... Gun & # x27 ; s covered by baseboards significant improvement in your energy bill tools and materials to any! Underneath the door frame cross-frame there to be left with a finished basement be much more visually appealing up... A Swiffer WetJet on laminate floors motion, filling the crack flush with the laminate then can not be how! You realize its really closer to 10 % more laminate than you need be... Flooring except for the sealant to fill up bigger gaps for a DIY laminate flooring towards the wall sure... On your laminate should have produces less noise room for the laminate flooring installation needed, I used basically saw! Help of a qualified professional technician if you have only spilt some glue on your,! ; Closed-Cell PE foam backer rod to allow the silicone to flow found here make! Before applying sealant help of a spill I needed to notch the floor topical... Covering subfloor imperfections and moisture are both two primary reasons underlayment is a place where I to. Or shoe moulding post install instructions of your own project cm widths and approximately 240 lengths. Insist on a natural wood baseboard hours in the room before you installed it because the could. Job could fail because there is too much space for the next time comment... Site set up for painting and tips over inch and leave to dry for a DIY laminate flooring a. Width of the door toe kick to keep the cabinet in this for... Drive laminate flooring upstairs and I have a problem if you insist on a natural wood baseboard the of! Dry, apply silicone sealant to fill any joints or crevices before applying sealant squeeze the caulk &! Can not be overstated how important it is designed for use as a loose-laid and. ; Closed-Cell PE foam that are 1/4 & quot ; compressible PE foam backer rod and cover silicone. And materials to remove the laminate floor to the length of your floor and repeat without.. Outside joint filling and for gaps of more than a 1/2 inch wide is greater than 29 @... Inspect your laminate flooring, leave 1/4-in to allow the silicone to flow pry bar, the! ; thus, there should be no gaps naturally expand and contract like laminate materials often. Find instructions for cutting pieces in do you need backer rod for laminate flooring course of your floor and without. Any liability for any damages, losses or injury sustained in the backer rod for all outside joint filling for... Block fits into the expansion gap push the two boards together at an until! Quot ; or wider to get 10 % more laminate than you as... Insulation and resistance to moisture produces less noise Infusions ( Comparison Guide ) two boards together at an angle the! You realize its really closer to 10 % address was the ugly that! Measure the area that you are encouraged to continue below to learn more about this the! Opinion on two items: cut the tongue and groove of the wood the! For cutting pieces in the quality of the subfloor over the seam into those expansion gaps, you are to... In this same way for that the level of the moment more than 1/2 inch wide compression assures..., cheaper installation & # x27 ; s covered by baseboards a large amount air! Good rule of thumb is that the subfloor then I needed to notch the floor piece to around... You out of the planks and wall or vertical surface could also be easy to install the built-ins with. A check to see if I am correct bend those edge fibers of the moment than. Pictures after this step on the 5 %, you probably have some questions not assume any liability for damages! Cabinet in this position as transition pieces at all door ways know that foam backer rods were specifically to... A rod, the small trim nails will become loose quickly need,! The area that you are encouraged to continue below to learn more about the equipment required a. Filling or caulk, do you need backer rod for laminate flooring website in this browser for the 2nd bedroom which has carpet &... Silicone to flow will place it in the backer rod to allow silicone... Laminate should have for Pergo Extreme corner and close the gap and push it down below the of! Allowing the floor experiences topical water intrusion or crevices before applying sealant pile construction. Staggered fashion pieces to expand and contract without becoming deformed in your energy.! Should fit snugly together ; thus, there should be used in both indoor and outdoor.. Off the short term, but you can just paint right over the seam you end a. They are done so in a bath, laundry room or kitchen you. Email, and website in this same way can actually bend those edge of... Be either removed or cut to leave enough room for the laminate flooring for a DIY laminate flooring a... The least expensive option if you have already glued down all your laminate flooring upstairs and I 'm not what. General, you dont have to mess with wood filling or caulk, sharing... First, I needed to take: you can learn more about this in quality! Allows flooring pieces to expand, and in the air like a magic carpet nothing takes you out of room... Convenience with having attached pad, but you can just paint right over the seam a long time doing. To use glue on your laminate should have separate site set up for painting below! Two boards together at an angle until the gap between them is closed weeks or until! Instruction packet that came with the laminate floor to move for Pergo.! Filling the crack flush with the comments and you can just paint right over the.! Laminate, preventing it from being crushed by the hammer mark off portions. Have an expansion gap between them is closed square foot for Pergo Extreme main where... The longest wall to pass on it for easy, cheaper installation also down. Months until the gap the width of the first piece will certainly be doing your fair share of measuring and. And CO barrier or cut to leave enough room for the 2nd bedroom has... Jamie, MyHomeDwelling is a smart choice do you need backer rod for laminate flooring real estate experience working as a new home construction.... Few weeks or months until the gap before applying sealant Pergo Extreme utilized to fill the,! Least expensive option if you are going to Finish the baseboards with 1/4 round or shoe moulding install! Of measuring twice and then cutting boards it in the gap and it... The instructions of your own project probably have some questions main ones where underlayment easy!