Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Quiet Walk 1/2-3/4 inch from Wall
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Quiet Walk 1/2-3/4 inch from Wall
flpicshooter
07-12-03, 08:24 AM
Hi,
I have the Quiet Walk underlayment. The instructions, which I just read, says that the edge of the underlayment should be 1/2 to 3/4 inch away from the wall. The laminate ends 1/4 inch away from the wall. If I followed this guideline, the the laminate will not have any vapor protection at the edges of the room.
I called the company, but they are closed for the weekend. I really wanted to put the floor down this weekend
If you have used the QW, did you:
1. follow the QW recommendation
2. cut it 1/4 inch away from the wall (like the laminate)
3. cut it flush with the wall
4. other
Thanks.
I have the Quiet Walk underlayment. The instructions, which I just read, says that the edge of the underlayment should be 1/2 to 3/4 inch away from the wall. The laminate ends 1/4 inch away from the wall. If I followed this guideline, the the laminate will not have any vapor protection at the edges of the room.
I called the company, but they are closed for the weekend. I really wanted to put the floor down this weekend
If you have used the QW, did you:
1. follow the QW recommendation
2. cut it 1/4 inch away from the wall (like the laminate)
3. cut it flush with the wall
4. other
Thanks.
DIMMike
07-12-03, 10:25 AM
The folks at QW know what there product is doing and what it needs to do. They are the ones who get their heine sued if they tell you something wrong and it causes problems.
Answer 1--follow instructions to the letter unless it is CLEARLY bad or contradicts another set of instructions.
If bad double/tripple check with manufacturer as you have tried to do.
The other answer:
What is moisture going to do to a piece of floor for 1/2 inch when it has room to expand? Very little compared to what moisture could do in the middle of the floor where there is wood on the right and left and sides and the only place for wood to expand easily is UP.
As a matter of science, I would doubt if 1.5 inches of exposed sub would matter at the end, but I would follow the instructions to the letter and preserve warrantees. The first question on any warranty claim of a diyer is did you follow manufacturers instructions.
Answer 1--follow instructions to the letter unless it is CLEARLY bad or contradicts another set of instructions.
If bad double/tripple check with manufacturer as you have tried to do.
The other answer:
What is moisture going to do to a piece of floor for 1/2 inch when it has room to expand? Very little compared to what moisture could do in the middle of the floor where there is wood on the right and left and sides and the only place for wood to expand easily is UP.
As a matter of science, I would doubt if 1.5 inches of exposed sub would matter at the end, but I would follow the instructions to the letter and preserve warrantees. The first question on any warranty claim of a diyer is did you follow manufacturers instructions.
flpicshooter
07-12-03, 10:51 AM
DIMMike
You are right that the first question the manufacturer will ask is if you followed the instructions correctly.
My laminate is made by Armstrong and on their website the instructions say to lay underlayment flush with the wall. The Quiet Walk manufacturer says 1/2-3/4 inch away from the wall for their underlayment.
The laminate is more important that the underlayment so my instinct is to go flush with the wall. However, the QW manufacturer must have a good reason to specify 1/2-3/4 inch or they wouldn't print it in the instructions.
I am just looking for opinions, and I thank you for yours.
You are right that the first question the manufacturer will ask is if you followed the instructions correctly.
My laminate is made by Armstrong and on their website the instructions say to lay underlayment flush with the wall. The Quiet Walk manufacturer says 1/2-3/4 inch away from the wall for their underlayment.
The laminate is more important that the underlayment so my instinct is to go flush with the wall. However, the QW manufacturer must have a good reason to specify 1/2-3/4 inch or they wouldn't print it in the instructions.
I am just looking for opinions, and I thank you for yours.
DIMMike
07-12-03, 11:27 AM
I'd go with the Armstrong instructions.
The ONLY reason I could think of for why you would want to leave a gap is for the concrete to breathe, but such a small area would not help much in a heavy moisture situation that theorethically affect the concrete or what it touches.
I would guess that the wood folks are trying to protect the flooring so they say all the way and the QW folks are setting a minimum condition to do that.
Since Armstrong is a big outfit, they may have a 24-7 hotline (or should).
In the absence of a final word from one or the other ( and a reason why), the next step is to see if NOFMA has a policy Armstrong instructions would follow "industry standards". and NOFMA is the industry
http://www.nofma.org/index.htm
The ONLY reason I could think of for why you would want to leave a gap is for the concrete to breathe, but such a small area would not help much in a heavy moisture situation that theorethically affect the concrete or what it touches.
I would guess that the wood folks are trying to protect the flooring so they say all the way and the QW folks are setting a minimum condition to do that.
Since Armstrong is a big outfit, they may have a 24-7 hotline (or should).
In the absence of a final word from one or the other ( and a reason why), the next step is to see if NOFMA has a policy Armstrong instructions would follow "industry standards". and NOFMA is the industry
http://www.nofma.org/index.htm