I am planning to install Oggen 3-ply Pargue Maple Engineered floating/glued flooring in two large rooms joined by a narrow corridor (It is all open plan - The corridor joins the top of one area and the bottom of the other). Each room is approx 25' square and the corridor area approx. 8' wide and 5' long. Therefor the total max length is 55' (2x25 and the 5' corridor).

The manufacturer states an expansion joint of 1.5mm per metre of "width". Is the expansion joint the same for the "length"?

With 55' being approx 17m, this computes to 25mm gap for the longest boards, with is approx. 1"! Is this correct? And, should it be at each end? This seems large, and hard to hide with a normal baseboard width.

Also, should a transition joint be used at all doorways? If a doorway is close to one wall, and the wall has a wide expansion joint (due to the length of the floor width), and the expansion gap in the doorway is narrow, would it not stop the complete floor from using the wide expansion joint?

Any help would be welcomed!

You can get by with less expansion with an engineered. In the length of the boards, your not going to get much if any expansion. Now on the widths, it is very stable but more plys go that direction, and it is possible it will swell in the width, but not much either.

Although, 55 feet is a pretty good span, for a floater.

If temperature and humidity are maintained to the same levels constantly, you should never see a problem, even if no expansion is left at all.

You can get by with less expansion with an engineered. In the length of the boards, your not going to get much if any expansion. Now on the widths, it is very stable but more plys go that direction, and it is possible it will swell in the width, but not much either.

Although, 55 feet is a pretty good span, for a floater.

If temperature and humidity are maintained to the same levels constantly, you should never see a problem, even if no expansion is left at all.

[quote="Anonymous"]You can get by with less expansion with an engineered. In the length of the boards, your not going to get much if any expansion. Now on the widths, it is very stable but more plys go that direction, and it is possible it will swell in the width, but not much either.quote]

I must disagree. Engineered materials will swell more in length than in width.

Follow the manufacturers directions.

If you need more expansion space than a baseboard will allow, you may want to consider adding base shoe also.

Break out your Mannington installation specs!

Look at #3, of the glue down specs. No expansion needed.

#4 in the staple down specs. No expansion needed.

Only the floating spec, required a 5/16 at all obstructions throughout installation