SPF 1x3x8s - How long to adjust to house environment?

Hi folks!

I've just recently completed installing laminate flooring in 75% of our upper floor (kitchen, dining room, lounge and hallway).

Now, the obvious next step is installing baseboards and trim. I purchased 1x3x8's for the main baseboards and 1x4x8's for the kick plate at the bottom of our kitchen cabinets. In theory, it all looks/sounds like it will work nicely.

My question is, how long do I need to have the lumber adjust to the room? .. (so far, it's been in the lounge for 6 days).

Kind Regards,
Cal

 

Flooring usualky should acclimate for 2 weeks if possible. But that's because a floor grows and shrinks primarily in width, not length... and that's compounded by many pieces all laid out side by side.

For what you're doing I doubt it will make any difference whatsoever. I would install it if you're ready to do it.

 

Many thanks for the reply XSleeper,

Certainly puts my mind at rest, as although I always hear people talk about how "kiln dry" lumber is in the big box stores, others mention letting it "dry out" in your home before cutting/installing.

Now, it's clearly a top talking point with laminate flooring (expansion gaps, acclimatization etc), but I wanted to double check the procedure for newly purchased lumber, which in my case, will receive a quick prime and lick of semi-gloss paint.

Like I always hear "wood is a living thing" ... so can I still expect some expansion with the change in season, even if an 1/8" here or there?

Anyway, thanks for your advice, I will now continue to prep the SPF lumber (1x3s/1x4s) for kick plates and baseboards.

Thanks again!
Cal

 

Glad to help, Cal. Lumber doesn't expand or contract very much in length so I doubt any shrinkage will be perceptible. If you do a nice job fitting your joints and you glue outside corners and caulk inside corners, you'll have it made.

 

Obviously staining or priming and painting the wood prior to installation will be beneficial. Good luck with the laminate in the wet areas

 

Indeed chandler!!

The only time I'll be on my knees again, is to cover nail heads!!! lolol

So yes, all kick plates and baseboards will be cut, primed and glossed up, prior to installation.

All the best,
Cal

 

Also, we researched the "laminate in kitchen" issue, well before installation. It's a hot topic, especially with the cheaper end products, but we were assured that with minimum contact with water, our laminate flooring would hold up well, so long as we don't let an unmanned lake settle in the middle of the floor!!! lol

We read many reports over the past while, some like this:
Can You Install Laminate Flooring In The Kitchen?

This is our brand of flooring:
https://www.goldenselect.ca/en/laminate/autumn-oak

All the best,
Cal

 

For a professional looking job the final coat of enamel should be applied after installation! Priming and apply 1 coat of finish will speed things up but you need to putty all the nail holes and caulk the joints after the installation - then apply the final coat of paint.

 

Cal, it looks as if you passed right by the 67 cent laminate flooring Gee, you could have saved a lot of money! I am truly pleased that you did not cheap out and got a quality 15mm thick floor. It looks great on the website.

 

I'm a firm believer in making a transition under the front edge of the dishwasher... so that you can install short pieces of flooring behind it. That way if there is a minor leak under the dishwasher you "might not" have to tear up the whole floor to fix it.