Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Laminate flooring around railing/ballisters?
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goldilox123
06-14-07, 09:26 PM
Hi,
I have been considering installing some laminate flooring up in the loft of my townhouse. The biggest issue (which I haven't figured out yet how to tackle) is how to install it around the ballisters for the loft railing. The loft is open on one side, with a rail that looks down onto the 2nd floor bedroom. There is a railing with 35 ballisters that are 6" apart holding it to the existing floor (which has carpeting on it right now). The base of the ballisters is square. (So it is a square not a round base to contend with).
I will add here that for a girl, I am quite handy around the house, and am no stranger to DIY projects. I DO NOT want to cut the ballisters or replace the rail, because I don't think it would be secure enough just mounting it onto the laminate or doing a toenail with a couple of nails. The potential drop to the floor below with a loose rail is pretty far down!!!
The only way I have come up with to get around these ballisters is if I took a long piece of wood and cut out each individual square as a notch in the wood, and then fit it between them. Almost like creating a comb. It's kind of hard to explain (which makes me think it won't work!) From there I would butt the edge of the laminate up against it. And I would leave one gap on the opposite wall (which is a regular wall) for swelling/shrinking. The loft is only 9 feet wide.
In addition, I would like to do hardwood treads on the stairs leading to the loft. The rail on the stairs has the same ballisters (2 per stair) which I have to deal with there as well. I hate to buy nice oak treads and have to cut them but I think that is what I will have to do.
I'm sure other people have had this sort of issue and I am hoping PLEASE OH PLEASE that someone with knowledge will read this and pass some ideas along!
Thanks!!!!!!!
Lynn from NH
I have been considering installing some laminate flooring up in the loft of my townhouse. The biggest issue (which I haven't figured out yet how to tackle) is how to install it around the ballisters for the loft railing. The loft is open on one side, with a rail that looks down onto the 2nd floor bedroom. There is a railing with 35 ballisters that are 6" apart holding it to the existing floor (which has carpeting on it right now). The base of the ballisters is square. (So it is a square not a round base to contend with).
I will add here that for a girl, I am quite handy around the house, and am no stranger to DIY projects. I DO NOT want to cut the ballisters or replace the rail, because I don't think it would be secure enough just mounting it onto the laminate or doing a toenail with a couple of nails. The potential drop to the floor below with a loose rail is pretty far down!!!
The only way I have come up with to get around these ballisters is if I took a long piece of wood and cut out each individual square as a notch in the wood, and then fit it between them. Almost like creating a comb. It's kind of hard to explain (which makes me think it won't work!) From there I would butt the edge of the laminate up against it. And I would leave one gap on the opposite wall (which is a regular wall) for swelling/shrinking. The loft is only 9 feet wide.
In addition, I would like to do hardwood treads on the stairs leading to the loft. The rail on the stairs has the same ballisters (2 per stair) which I have to deal with there as well. I hate to buy nice oak treads and have to cut them but I think that is what I will have to do.
I'm sure other people have had this sort of issue and I am hoping PLEASE OH PLEASE that someone with knowledge will read this and pass some ideas along!
Thanks!!!!!!!
Lynn from NH