Hi, I was hoping for some advice, I have been decorating my house and
so far I have only been getting carpet laid, but I am planning on
getting some solid oak floorboards fitted downstairs, and whilst
ordering the carpet for my last room upstairs I spoke to the carpet
shop about oak flooring and they said they lay the boards first and
then I put the skirting boards in (as I am putting new ones in), and
that they don't do it like carpet where I do skirting first then the
lay the boards in?

Is this correct, as my house is quite old so nothing is square and I
tend to have different size gaps under the skirting so it is square.
Obviously the gaps aren't noticeable when the carpet goes down as its
only a couple of mm here and there, but they will be seen if the floor
boards go in first.

If someone could provide some insight into this it would be greatly
appreciated. Also not sure if I heard the guy properly but I think he
said they do it like this because of expansion gap, therefore am I
then actually suppose to fits the skirting a little higher than the
new floor boards?

Many thanks in advance

CJC wrote:
Hi, I was hoping for some advice, I have been decorating my house and
so far I have only been getting carpet laid, but I am planning on
getting some solid oak floorboards fitted downstairs, and whilst
ordering the carpet for my last room upstairs I spoke to the carpet
shop about oak flooring and they said they lay the boards first and
then I put the skirting boards in (as I am putting new ones in), and
that they don't do it like carpet where I do skirting first then the
lay the boards in?

Is this correct, as my house is quite old so nothing is square and I
tend to have different size gaps under the skirting so it is square.
Obviously the gaps aren't noticeable when the carpet goes down as its
only a couple of mm here and there, but they will be seen if the floor
boards go in first.

If someone could provide some insight into this it would be greatly
appreciated. Also not sure if I heard the guy properly but I think he
said they do it like this because of expansion gap, therefore am I
then actually suppose to fits the skirting a little higher than the
new floor boards?

Many thanks in advance


The skirting just rests on the boards. If that leaves gaps, fill them,
but you may find the new floor will be better in that respect.
If the skirting was behind the board edges, the cutting would have to be
mighty accurate, and gaps would be inevitable

in article , CJC at
wrote on 24/9/07 14:12:

If someone could provide some insight into this it would be greatly
appreciated. Also not sure if I heard the guy properly but I think he
said they do it like this because of expansion gap, therefore am I
then actually suppose to fits the skirting a little higher than the
new floor boards?

If they are talking about expansion gaps, I am assuming that they are not
nailing the floor to anything underneath- just nailing the boards to each
other to form a floating floor. This suggests that the existing floorboards
will be left- were you expecting this, or were you expecting the floor to be
at the same level? The expansion gap is a horizontal gap, not vertical, so
the skirting would still straight on top.

If it is nailed to the joists, without the existing boards, there is not
much point in having an expansion gap. However, they will still like to
install the floor without having to cut each board precisely to fit inside
the skirting- which would almost certainly leave more nasty gaps that any
gaps you mentioned through things not being square.


Ben

On 24 Sep, 14:55, Ben Micklem wrote:
in article om, CJC at
wrote on 24/9/07 14:12:

If someone could provide some insight into this it would be greatly
appreciated. Also not sure if I heard the guy properly but I think he
said they do it like this because of expansion gap, therefore am I
then actually suppose to fits the skirting a little higher than the
new floor boards?

If they are talking about expansion gaps, I am assuming that they are not
nailing the floor to anything underneath- just nailing the boards to each
other to form a floating floor. This suggests that the existing floorboards
will be left- were you expecting this, or were you expecting the floor to be
at the same level? The expansion gap is a horizontal gap, not vertical, so
the skirting would still straight on top.

If it is nailed to the joists, without the existing boards, there is not
much point in having an expansion gap. However, they will still like to
install the floor without having to cut each board precisely to fit inside
the skirting- which would almost certainly leave more nasty gaps that any
gaps you mentioned through things not being square.

Ben

Hi sorry didn't event think that the boards may replace what's
currently there, no they are being nailed straight on top or original
boards. just I know my skirting usually has to be risen a mm or two
here and there to make it square which would then leave gaps between
floor boards and skirting which obviously I wouldn't want, so how am I
suppose to get around that, as when I have seen floor boards in other
houses the skirting is always flush but don't see how I would be able
to do that in my house?

CJC wrote:
On 24 Sep, 14:55, Ben Micklem wrote:
in article om, CJC at
wrote on 24/9/07 14:12:

If someone could provide some insight into this it would be greatly
appreciated. Also not sure if I heard the guy properly but I think he
said they do it like this because of expansion gap, therefore am I
then actually suppose to fits the skirting a little higher than the
new floor boards?
If they are talking about expansion gaps, I am assuming that they are not
nailing the floor to anything underneath- just nailing the boards to each
other to form a floating floor. This suggests that the existing floorboards
will be left- were you expecting this, or were you expecting the floor to be
at the same level? The expansion gap is a horizontal gap, not vertical, so
the skirting would still straight on top.

If it is nailed to the joists, without the existing boards, there is not
much point in having an expansion gap. However, they will still like to
install the floor without having to cut each board precisely to fit inside
the skirting- which would almost certainly leave more nasty gaps that any
gaps you mentioned through things not being square.

Ben

Hi sorry didn't event think that the boards may replace what's
currently there, no they are being nailed straight on top or original
boards.

Ah, a makeover job. Let's hope you don't ever need access for wiring
etc. Won't it leave you with a step in the doorway?

just I know my skirting usually has to be risen a mm or two
here and there to make it square which would then leave gaps between
floor boards and skirting which obviously I wouldn't want, so how am I
suppose to get around that, as when I have seen floor boards in other
houses the skirting is always flush but don't see how I would be able
to do that in my house?

you can scribe the base of the
skirting to cope with the unevenness of the floor.

I wouldn't. That line needs to be straight or it looks like a dog's dinner

"CJC" wrote in message

Hi sorry didn't event think that the boards may replace what's
currently there, no they are being nailed straight on top or original
boards. just I know my skirting usually has to be risen a mm or two
here and there to make it square which would then leave gaps between
floor boards and skirting which obviously I wouldn't want, so how am I
suppose to get around that, as when I have seen floor boards in other
houses the skirting is always flush but don't see how I would be able
to do that in my house?


Worry about this when the flooring is down...personally everything will fit
into place once it is down.

On 25 Sep, 12:46, "George" wrote:
"CJC" wrote in message

Hi sorry didn't event think that the boards may replace what's
currently there, no they are being nailed straight on top or original
boards. just I know my skirting usually has to be risen a mm or two
here and there to make it square which would then leave gaps between
floor boards and skirting which obviously I wouldn't want, so how am I
suppose to get around that, as when I have seen floor boards in other
houses the skirting is always flush but don't see how I would be able
to do that in my house?

Worry about this when the flooring is down...personally everything will fit
into place once it is down.

Thanks for all the posts its much appreciated, given me plenty food
for thought.

Just a couple of answers to posts up to this, there will be a step up
into the room, but I am planning on putting oak flooring throughout
downstairs so hopefully its then fine.

My boards are quite uneven and thought about cutting them down but
with my limited experience in decorating they really would look
rubbish, no doubt someone with more experience probably could do it
and look good though, but I guess I'll save the fancy tricks when I
have a few more rooms under my belt.

Then lastly would be great to worry about it afterwards but I tend to
worry beforehand, but hopefully once they are laid I'll look back at
your optimistic approach and think he was right )

Cheers again for the responses.