DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Can anybody give me any advice for laying a (floating) oak floor in a kitchen/diner with an archway?

The full length of the room is approx 8 metres, should I go all of the way through or use some kind of expansion threshold at the arch? If so, can anybody recommend any (the arch is about 4ft wide).

I think going straight through would be quite difficult on the other side of the arch (going back towards the wall)??

Thanks

Simon

Its your call Simon, we prefer to go straight though but many of our DIY customers put in a seperation strip. A 15mm gap should be left under the arch for expansion if you go with this way of doing it. The strip can be of chamferred hardwood simply glued ( Gripfil adhesive is the best, see our adhesives used at home project at www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects.htm ) to one side of the floor. this will still allow movement under the strip. It takes a bit of experience and some considerable carpentry skills to be able to complete a floor and keep all cuts and expansion joints neat but we think its worth getting some same size timber to practice on as a strip in the middle of a floor (in our opinion) looks untidy,.