Laminate floating floor and picture framing a fireplace

Hey all! I'm gearing up for my first time installing hardwood flooring... We've chosen a laminate floating floor.

I've pretty much got my head wrapped around most of this, but I have a question about the fireplace.

Around the fireplace, I'd like to "picture frame" it, effectively creating a border around the fireplace. I would like for there to be no seam between the stone and the fireplace hearth (have them the same height), and potentially, use a stone border to make the transition.

Additionally, the direction of the wood will have the end grain heading straight into th fireplace. So, the thing I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around is expansion joints on a floating floor. It seems like all the wood on the floor will be running perpendicular to one piece of wood that makes up the picture frame. Do I nail this one down, even if the rest of the floor is floating? If not, how do I handle expansion for this one particular piece?

Am I overthinking this one?

Thanks in advance for all the help! If necessary, I can upload an image that describes it in better detail.

 

It's going to be really difficult to get a finished edge cut on laminate that you can butt it up to another piece. All pieces interlock so floating a frame in the opposite direction across the width of the hearth will be tough to stabilize. You will need to have some form of transition strip that acts as you frame where you can tuck your laminate underneath to allow for expansion. If your two floors are the same height, most likely you will have to use T-Molding to accomplish this.

 

Thanks for the feedback czizzi...

Is it generally acceptable to run the hardwood in that direction? Are there other options for framing it out, other than undercutting and tucking the laminate under the stone?

 

I always "breadboard" my fireplaces, but that's with real hardwood. You won't get laminate to cooperate at all with this type transition.