Laminate flooring: Is shoe molding inevitable?
#1
09-10-13, 10:00 PM
Laminate flooring: Is shoe molding inevitable?
I removed old carpet and planning to replace with laminate flooring. Room recently painted, so I'd rather not remove existing baseboard.
(A) Is there a way to fit the laminate floor under the existing baseboard on all 4 walls? (I can see how to fit the laminate under the first, second, perhaps even third wall, but what about the last one?). If it cannot be done then adding shoe molding is the only logical option?
(B) The existing gap between the baseboard and concrete slab is almost ½” while the laminate seems to be only about ¼”, (perhaps 3/8” with the underlayment?). Hence I predict a ¼’ to 1/8” gap. Is again shoe molding inevitable to close this remaining gap? Or can I perhaps caulk it? What about the expected expansion movement if I caulk?
Advice appreciated.
(A) Is there a way to fit the laminate floor under the existing baseboard on all 4 walls? (I can see how to fit the laminate under the first, second, perhaps even third wall, but what about the last one?). If it cannot be done then adding shoe molding is the only logical option?
(B) The existing gap between the baseboard and concrete slab is almost ½” while the laminate seems to be only about ¼”, (perhaps 3/8” with the underlayment?). Hence I predict a ¼’ to 1/8” gap. Is again shoe molding inevitable to close this remaining gap? Or can I perhaps caulk it? What about the expected expansion movement if I caulk?
Advice appreciated.
#3
09-11-13, 02:45 AM
Mod will probably move the whole thing. The baseboard is only 1/2" thick only giving the minimal amount of expansion room. If you don't allow at least that much the floor could possibly expand and touch the wall member and cause buckling. I would be safe and do the inevitable and install shoe molding, nailed to the baseboard only.
