Similar to other natural materials, hardwood floors expand or contract in accordance with fluctuations of air humidity.

To accommodate this expansion, which usually happens during the summer, in the premises of average size you should leave an expansion joint 7-10 mm in width between a floor and the wall or other surface adjacent to the floor and cover it with a skirting or a threshold.

Sufficient number of wedges should be used to maintain the appropriate gap and compact the planks. In rooms more than 8 meters long you should make expansion joint based on 1.5 mm expansion per meter of floor, measured cross directionally in relation to boards. The choice of the skirting should be made based on the fact that board contracts during a heating season. To avoid the gaps between skirting and floor over winter time ensure that skirting width is at least one third more than expansion joint width. A similar expansion joint should also be left around pipes, thresholds, door frames and so on.

An expansion joint is required when the floor size exceeds 12 m in width and between rooms which have different shapes as well as separate rooms. Expansion joint must be constructed in doorways, in the corner or other suitable place and covered with a separate skirting. You should follow the installation manual on expansion joints in you work. Installation of floating floors under fixed furniture and kitchen appliances is not recommended since in this case the board is strongly pressed to the ground, causing gaps to appear between the boards.