Vinyl Flooring (Quarter Round, Expansion Gap, Over Laminate)

Quarter round is molding used to cover up gaps while flooring. The molding’s cross-section is a perfect quarter radius. Quarter-round molding is produced in different types of plastic and wood. hence can be used for various fittings.

So, do you need a quarter-round for vinyl flooring? You can use quarter-round molding for vinyl flooring, but it is not compulsory. If there are imperfect corners or gaps around the flooring that need fixing, then you can use the quarter-round molding. This is ideal because it helps fill the gaps and give your place an attractive new look.

Vinyl flooring is ideal if you want to improve your home appearance. It is made of a long-lasting mixture that can resist normal wear and tear. However, many people wonder if it is necessary to use quarter-round molding for vinyl flooring.

You can use quarter-round molding for vinyl flooring, but it is not compulsory. However, you should use this molding if there are imperfect corners or gaps around the flooring that need covering. This is recommended because quarter-round molding helps fill the gaps and improve your home’s appearance.

While quarter-round molding is ideal in some cases, it is not a necessity for every house. Generally, the main reason quarter-round molding is installed is to fill up visible gaps between walls or other dents on the floor.

Experts advise that you leave some space on the sides of the floor to keep room for contraction or expansion. The contraction or expansion of the flooring depends on the construction of the building and the climate in that area.

For example, if you live in a dry place where it is never too humid or hot, the chance of the flooring expanding is very little. Even if it does expand, it is often negligible. In that case, it is okay not to use any quarter-round molding because there are no visible gaps or dents.

Besides, how the building is constructed could affect the flooring design. Generally, building construction is determined by choice of both the owner and the builder. If the builder suggests that they shouldn’t use quarter-round molding, that might be the final decision because the building is designed in a way that the gaps are already covered.

Therefore, it is possible to install vinyl and laminate the flooring without having to use quarter-round molding. Similarly, the homeowner has a say in whether quarter-round molding should be used or not. Some owners prefer it because they believe it enhances the building’s appearance. The climate and building strategy could also influence this decision.

There are several reasons why you might need quarter-round molding when flooring your home. First, this molding helps secure the joints. After the installation of the flooring, you should secure and cover the joints in the edges to prevent peeling off the flooring. One of the most reliable ways of doing that is by using quarter-round molding. The molding is made from durable material that helps secure the joints.

You also need quarter-round molding to keep the moisture out. Given that there is some space left on either side of the flooring, there are chances of moisture building up inside the gap between the flooring and the floor. The quarter-round molding helps keep out the moisture by sealing the gaps. This lets you enjoy seamless flooring for a long time.

As mentioned earlier, you also need quarter-round molding to fill the gaps. When flooring, you should leave some gaps between the wall or baseboards and the flooring for contraction or expansion. This is vital, especially if the climate changes a lot — the chances of the flow expanding are high in such conditions.

While this doesn’t sound like much, leaving some room in the flooring can save you from the trouble of sudden gaps or swells. Of course, the stylish and effective way of filling up gaps in the flooring is using quarter-round molding.

To complete the flooring look, you will also need quarter-round molding. While in most cases, it is vital to leave some gaps around the flooring, the result might look unfinished and sometimes doesn’t fit the room design.

If you are in such a situation, you can turn it around by installing quarter-round molding. The molding is large enough to cover all the gaps in the flooring and give your home a warm and complete look.

Another reason you might need to install a quarter-round molding is to offer flexibility. In some cases, your house’s flooring might need the flexibility to shrink or expand. Quarter-round molding comes with a versatile material that offers flexibility. It also ensures that the flooring fits and sits right on the floor. Even if the home flooring is not even or flat, you can get a flawless finish by installing quarter-round molding.

Do You Need an Expansion Gap for Vinyl Flooring?

Homeowners have different options when it comes to flooring. They can choose to use vinyl flooring or a solid flooring option that can keep the floor in excellent condition. When using vinyl flooring, some homeowners wonder if it is necessary to apply expansion gaps. Therefore, do you need an extension gap for vinyl flooring?

When installing vinyl flooring, it is necessary to leave some gaps for expansion purposes. The gap should be on the floor edges or anywhere it meets a vertical surface or another floor. This option is ideal if you go for floating floors that are designed to move freely in the room. Such floors should never be nailed to the subfloor or glued down the surface.

Besides, any permanent fixtures like wood stoves, cabinets, or fixed appliances should never be installed on top of the vinyl floor. This is because such weight can affect the stability of the vinyl floor and result in breakages.

Generally, luxury vinyl planks and tiles are made of vinyl. This material is susceptible to changes in temperature, which can cause vinyl flooring to contract and expand with cold and hot fluctuations.

When installing vinyl flooring, it is vital to allow space for expansion by leaving a gap around the floor perimeter. The same should also be applied everywhere it meets another vertical surface or floor.

If you have vinyl flooring, it is vital to maintain an indoor environment. This is not only pleasant for you but also vital for the floor. Extreme changes in temperature can cause significant damage to the floating floor.

This doesn’t mean that the vinyl flooring is safe in subtle changes created by HVAC conditions — the floors can still react even in such conditions. Therefore, you should ensure that the temperatures are maintained between 65°F and 80°F for optimal performance.

You should also keep any radiant heating systems to the right temperature that won’t increase the floor heat to over 85°F. If you stay in an area with prolonged exposure to sunlight, you should have the necessary window coverings to lessen the amount of generated heat. This should be the case, especially in peak sun hours, to prevent vinyl flooring from heat exposure.

While expansion gaps often sound like a bad thing, they can be helpful when properly used. Expansion gaps can help relieve pressure from the heat expansion that could end up affecting vinyl flooring. When the excessive heat meets a vertical, immovable obstruction like a doorpost, wall, or supporting column, it doesn’t cause significant damage.

The presence of close encounters between the wall and floor can result in an unsightly and noticeable peaked or buckling appearance. To avoid such cases, experts advise that you maintain uniform expansion gaps around the floor parameter. This should be applied in vertical obstructions during installation.

The recommended size of the expansion gap is 5/16″ between the obstruction and the edge of the floor. The expansion gap is always hidden by a piece of trim molding like quarter-round. If you are applying the molding against metal door frames or areas where you can’t install a molding, use a color-coordinated silicone to fill the gap whenever necessary.

It is necessary to check the installation instructions that are included with the vinyl flooring or those found online. Make sure you understand the installation instructions before installing vinyl flooring for effective results.

Can Vinyl Flooring Be Laid Over Laminate?

When remodeling your home, there are many options for hard floors — vinyl flooring is one of the popular options. This is because it is durable and helps improve your home appearance. However, some owners wonder if vinyl flooring can be laid over laminate.

You can technically install this flooring option over laminate, but it is not recommended due to the physical properties of these two components. Besides, the methods of installing them can also negatively impact the flooring. If you go ahead and install vinyl flooring over laminate, the vinyl flooring will end up looking unprofessional and uneven.

Typically, laminate flooring changes and wears down over time. If you live in high-traffic areas, the flooring might physically wear down in some places, creating a surface that is uneven enough to make any flooring installed on top of it unable to lie completely flat. Besides, old laminate flooring might be shifted enough for there to be some spaces in between individual tiles. This could significantly distort the flooring in your home.

While most laminate floors are at least water-resistant, they are not waterproof. Depending on the location of the laminate floor in your home, especially in the bathroom or kitchen, it may soak up excess moisture and become uneven or swollen.

Besides, when you install vinyl flooring over a surface that isn’t level, you will have a floor that is uneven in some places. Such floors might not meet the walls evenly, creating an unpleasant look. The presence of unsightly gaps also makes your home look unprofessional and disorganized.

It is vital to think about how these two types of floorings are made and how they impact each other. Vinyl flooring has a waterproof layer that parents water entry. However, any residual moisture soaked into the pre-existing laminate floor increases the risk of mold or mildew. The risk is also present if there are gaps in the vinyl flooring — the gaps allow water into the spaces between two floors and increase the chances of mildew.

It is also crucial to know that many laminate floors are floating. This means they are not directly attached to the subfloor beneath them. Experts advise that you install vinyl flooring only on overstable and solid floors. Laying it over laminate will result in vinyl flooring moving unnecessarily. This could result in damages that shorten its overall lifespan.

How Heavy Is Vinyl Flooring?

If you are considering using vinyl flooring in your home, you might want to know how heavy it is. Generally, vinyl flooring is a classy flooring option that most homeowners use. It comes with a trendy design that helps improve your home appearance.

Vinyl flooring weighs approximately 2-2.3 pounds per square foot. Its dimensions are 8 mm, 7 mm, 10 mm, and 12 mm. Vinyl floorings have different variations when it comes to thickness. The thickness varies from 3 mm to 5 mm.

One of the most common options when it comes to vinyl flooring is click-lock flooring. This is because it comes at the most affordable price and is often long-lasting. The materials used to make this flooring option are durable and flexible.

Remember that all manufacturers are different. Therefore, expect to get vinyl floorings with varying weights. For example, you can get vinyl flooring weighing 1.5 pounds per square foot, while another weighs 2.5 pounds.

It is vital to go for a flooring option with the right weight for effective performance. A light vinyl flooring will not support heavyweight and could break at any point. This will also result in repair expenses.

Finally

Quarter-round molding is ideal when installing vinyl flooring. This molding helps fill up gaps in the floor that could make the surface look uneven. Even though it is not compulsory, you can use quarter-round molding on vinyl flooring since it helps cover up spaces on the edge of your floor. Also, It is necessary to have expansion gaps when installing vinyl flooring. This is because it helps create space for expansion purposes. It also helps keep your vinyl flooring even.