Laminate flooring in a conservatory

[mfewell]

I am about to lay a laminate floor in my conservatory. It's my first and I know to leave a gap between the floor and the walls to allow for expansion. Because it gets very hot - over 40C on a good (?) day - should I perhaps leave a slightly larger gap than the 'usual' to allow for extra expansion.

Also, do you have any tips or gotchas generally for a first timer ?

Thanks,

Mike

[rampart]

Is this laminate in tiles or rolls? If tiles, I think you lay the first squares nearest the main entry to the room so that anything that's trimmed or irregular (rooms are seldom plumb) are off against the walls and not at the threshold.

Also, when going around an irregular shape such as a toilet or the like, first make a pattern with newspaper. Just cut it out and shape it round the irregular thing and once it's good, use it as  your pattern and cut the laminate.

Last, allow a little more time than you think you're going to need!

Good luck!

[ICEMANSAV]

or did you mean a laminate wood floor?

[mfewell]

I mean what I would call the 'standard' laminate packs as in B&Q and Homebase, I paid around �12 a pack, 6mm thick, not real wood.

I have read that installing REAL wood floors is not a job for an amateur, but I am prepared to have a go at glueless laminate.  I was worried about working around odd shapes and doorways, but I have found a device called a profile gauge which, rather like an executive toy, moulds itself to fit odd shapes and making it easier to mark and saw the laminate board.

[druiaghtagh]

I was advised not to have this in my conservatory brecause of temperature extremes, causing warping etc.

[Bob A Job]

Top Tip, rather than cut around the zig-zag awkward bit at the bottom of wooden door frames (you always end up being able to see the join) lay a piece of the flooring upsidedown next to it an use a saw to remove the same thickness from the bottom of the door frame itself. When you lay the flooring it just slides underneath the frame and you get the perfect fit every time!!!

Also you could remove old skirting boards before you start and replace them with larger ones when you have finished!

[mosxu]

A gap between the walls and and the floor should be enough I would suggest flooring can be laminate or real wood.