Finish TradesQuestion 279 of 700
Solid hardwood strip flooring installed over a wood subfloor at grade needs an expansion allowance. At the walls, the installer should:
a.Butt the flooring tight to the wall with no gap
b.Leave a 2-inch gap and fill it with mortar
c.Glue the ends of the boards to the wall
d.Leave a small expansion gap (commonly about the thickness of the flooring) hidden behind the base and shoe molding
Explanation
Wood flooring expands and contracts with humidity, so a small perimeter expansion gap (often roughly equal to the board thickness) is left and concealed by baseboard and shoe molding. Butting tight causes buckling, a 2-inch mortar-filled gap is wrong, and gluing ends to the wall prevents needed movement.
Practice all 700 questions free — no signup required.
Related questions on this topic
- Porous natural stone tile has been installed and grouted. Applying a penetrating (impregnating) sealer to the stone MAINLY serves to:
- On a large-format porcelain tile floor, lippage (one tile edge higher than the neighbor) is a common complaint. Which practice BEST minimizes lippage?
- A vinyl composition tile (VCT) floor is being installed and will be maintained with floor finish. The subfloor must be smooth because:
- Frameless (European-style) cabinets differ from face-frame cabinets MAINLY in that:
- Under CALGreen, composite wood used in interior casework, such as particleboard cabinet boxes, must meet formaldehyde emission limits. This requirement is set MAINLY to:
- In a bathroom that will receive paint (not tile), which gypsum board is a better choice for the walls and ceiling than standard board?
Last reviewed: · editorial process
PrepPass Editorial Team · Verified against California CSLB General Building (B) Trade Examination · How we review