I'll start laying down my 3/4 in. hardwood flooring this weekend. I've pulled the baseboard off and will replace it with new after the floor is installed. I've read that the first and last rows should be 3/4 inch from the wall. I won't be using quarter round on the bottom of my baseboard, and the baseboard is just barely 3/4 in. thick, so when I re-install the baseboard it wouldn't cover the nails used on the first row. Question is, is 3/4 inch really necessary, will the flooring expand that much, or would 1/2 inch do? Thanks

I just got my Quickstep laminate floor order in.. I started reading the instruction and, to my surprise, read the following: "There must also be an 8 to 10 mm (5/16" to 3/8" expansion joint between the last row and the wall. Keep this in mind when sawing the last row of panels." Why do I need an expansion joint for the last row? Can't I just put it under a baseboard (and/or quarter round), just like on the other side of the wall? This may be relevant also - the last row will sit against the wall which has baseboard heating on it. If this is just for a nicer look, I don't really care, because it'll be under the heater.. Of course, maybe I should care? What do others think?