Could anyone tell me if this is the tightest that the installer could do? I think it's a good idea to have some space. However, a gap between a floor … If the desire was for no trim pieces then that should have been the plan from the beginning. User account menu. Sorry i neglected to look at the fireplace picture which obviously won't get baseboard. She said she doesn't want trim on it. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Fireplaces come in two general types: masonry fireplaces and factory built (prefab) fireplaces. Unfortunately inexperienced installers will handle it this way, either because they do not know of other solutions or don't care to handle it any other way. Sharon- Thanks for the follow. Nothing about base board or quarter round says modern minimalist. We had new hardwood put down in a room with an existing fireplace and it goes right to the edge of our hearth. It is closer than yours. To make matters worse, the. How do I full this space/gap so that it looks good? It needs to be flexible so the wood can move...even though it is glued. Unavoidable. This is one of your only options. Strangely there other area was nice and tight. NWFA guidelines state that there should be a gap around all objects and the perimeter the same thickness as the flooring. There should be trim covering the gap that is necessary for expansion and contraction. So yes, floorboards can be attached to the joists. If you buy prefinished wood, however, this can be a bit of an issue...the refinishing. For the fireplace/flooring junction, you need a transition piece of some sort. In this area there is often wood studs which are part of the homes’ framing. These problems below are why people should focus on fixing the baseboard and floor’s gap: It’s an aesthetic drag. I would look for a thin tile the same as the fireplace to act as trim at the bottom and yes an expansion gap is common. Press J to jump to the feed. With the fire place BARE of stone (just the bottom layer) you reinstall the wood planks as tight to the vertical surface of the hearth as possible. Close. Make sure the tape is at least as thick as the gap you are looking to fill, as it will automatically expand to the thickness of the joint once it is in place. Hide the Expansion Gap. It would have covered the gap (with 1/32" of a gap between bottom of the stone and top of the floor). This helps our clients make up their minds before doing the whole floor. But you'll get much more satisfaction out of it every time someone comes to your house and comments on how great it looks. Gap between floor and hearth too big. I'd just caulk it with translucent silicone and be done with it. Installing hardwood moldings around fireplace hearths has never been an attractive solution for covering up those gaps. Then reinstalled stone will now cover the gap...because the wood will be 1/2" closer to the fire place substrate. AFC is doing right by you here. gap between doorway casings & new hardwood floors There's a noticeable gap (about 1/4") between our new hardwood floors and pre-exisiting entryway casings (no doors hang on them). Step 1: Measure the gap between tub and floor tile. Would that work for you? He suggested sealing the crack on the inside as the most cost effective way to improve the comfort in this room. You might be able to use a silicone caulk to fill in the gaps. He has told me that it would be expensive to gain access to the gap between each stud and blow in insulation. Not sure what to fill gaps between wood floor and fireplace with. Hi we have just had our conservatory plastered and he left a 2" gap between the floor and wall (purposely), but the draft that... Gap between double glazing and wall-very whistley! Houzz Tour: ’50s Ranch Redo Could Be a Keeper, Contractor Tips: Smooth Moves for Hardwood Floors, My Houzz: Peeling Back Layers in a 1908 Home, What to Know Before Refinishing Your Floors, Houzz TV: See Recycled Walls and Cool Cassette Art in a Woodsy DIY Home, New This Week: Proof the Formal Dining Room Isn’t Dead, Kitchen cabinet suggestions - white vs maple. No matter what gap you’re trying to close, the first thing to do is measure the length of the opening. Depending on the climate where you live, engineered hardwood can last longer. I used hi temp silicone to seal the gap between the board and the fireplace in case an ember fell in there. This lets the stove sit fairly close against the back wall. (Note: did the installer realize that there would be no quarter-round? The last time I put in Brazilian Cherry, the client literally agreed not to put any furniture on it for 8 weeks, and no rugs on it for a year. To install, the planks have to be tilted then slid it, then lifted to a 45-degree angle, then laid flat. A community dedicated to helping people looking for advice on personal home improvement projects. There's no perfect solution. It is true that decorative wood COULD have been used to get flush against the stone. Consider these professional pointers before you lay the first plank, Hidden fireplaces, buried hardwood and covered beadboard resurface thanks to a Mississippi couple's DIY efforts, Learn costs and other important details about renewing a hardwood floor — and the one mistake you should avoid, Walnut countertops join hardwood floors and pieces made from leftover framing in a bright Spanish colonial. Yours in Floors Zach Liske Floor Huggers. Both clouds, but so different in presentation and color it is hard to imagine they are both made of water, just at different densities. Regards, Jim. Scribing Around To Fit? Engineered hardwood withstands the switch in temperatures better due to its different layers. Just find a small trim piece for that. Ours wasn't done in that order. This will tell you if it was planned for or not. Luckily if you use the caulk solution you can always cut it out with a utility knife and try again :), New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the HomeImprovement community. Then you can give your wooden floors a brand-new look, Dreaming of gorgeous, natural wood floors? I've removed the raised hearth and will be tiling the hearth flush with hardwood floor. If a manufacturer tells you this will not happen, do some research to really find out from them why they say that. If you can't find one, it's not hard to build some molding that size, provided you can find an appropriately-sized piece of wood. A gap between a baseboard and a floor seems like a fairly minor issue, and to a point, it is. I am assuming these are the same brand of products - so color is the only issue. Of what you have received concerning your question so far, AFC Inc. is right, and has given you the most valuable advice, in my opinion. However, it still can cause a slew of other issues. The poster who claimed that the thicker the wood is, the harder it is, is totally incorrect. This should be a problem about soot staining the brick if the sealing of the fireplace is done properly. Not sure what product I can buy to fill it and still look good. Regency I2400 Fireplace Insert, on partially self-built hearth Replacing: old Nashua that supplied forced hot air from garage, now with broken baffle Two dogs, a wee one who knows not to touch wood stoves, a cat who likes the cold, and a man who likes it hot. When he came and used his IR camera, the spot on the floor next to this gap was in the 30's in temperature. Posted by 7 years ago. T. tathspts New Member. You could research farmhouse decorating choices until the cows come home. I think it's safer than squeezing it in and risking major floor damage. Thanks for all the input pals. This. Dark Hardwood Floors vs. Light Hardwood Floors? Anyway, back to the drawing. Place the flooring boards against the fireplace and staple or nail them into place. Had this been thought through, the floors would have gone down first and the finish on the fireplace would have been last. This creates problems, however, and I know all about them having been installing these things for 23 years. The temperatures in the firebox area of a fireplace can get very high; the average temperature in many fireplaces is around 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit. Expand Signature. What type of caulk or sealant should I use to fill a space on my fireplace hearth between the slate & the wood frame that surrounds it. Can't Decide Between Two Hardwood Floor Colors! Also, solid and engineered hardwoods can be sanded down the same amount of times because you will eventually hit the staples/nails used to install both types of flooring when you sand them down. First up, for your stairs? I cannot figure out what these gaps … And regarding another's post, running on the diagonal does create a bit more waste and higher labor (not that much), but unless those increases blow your budget, I don't see that as reason to not do it...other considerations carry more weight. Sadly, the installer (boots on the ground guy) was probably left out of the conversation. En savoir plus. Very, very, very tough. The sellers of pre-finished wood often want to sell the most durable thing they can...they don't want you coming back with complaints about durability. This will take more time than caulk, grout, or whatever else, and have a steeper learning curve if you've not done it before. Notes to homes around the country hit us where we live, An experienced house flipper puts his creative talents to work on an L.A. remodel designed for his own family, Know how to apply nail polish? You don't caulk it. My tendency would be to suggest the angled installation as much more interesting, if it didn't create problems. Little circular things that give you an appropriately covered look. At this point, you need to find out what can be done. Jan 12, 2009 3,932 SW Virginia. Would Joint compound work or do I need to plaster? But that would have been discusses with both the point of sales AND the installer (the guy who did the work). Blaze King Princess, Osburn 1600 insert. gap between floor and wall. In the winter, this can be achieved with a whole house humidifier that connects to the furnace. They make molding for that. The boards are nailed to a frame, and downstairs there is just a gap of about 1 foot between the floorboards and the soil below! At the end of the year, even though they were at their limits of trust of me at the start, they couldn't thank me enough. 10. Using a dado blade on the table saw, cut some of the thickness away. Could graphic wallpaper, herringbone-patterned floors, wine cellars and fire features save formal dining rooms from extinction? Left or Right? It would have covered the gap (with 1/32" of a gap between bottom of the stone and top of the floor). If the store where you are buying it from could show you some photos of each installed and how they look when down in the room - that might help you!! Perhaps a rubber quarter round if such a thing exists. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. It is made up of firebricks and mortar, which are designed to withstand high heat. Wood flooring installed on 45 degree angles to the space's walls will often serve to integrate the two legs of a large "L"-shaped space, or to eliminate any sense of the "bowling alley" syndrome in a long, narrow space. It’s not going to cause your house to light on fire. So, on the 45 is definitely a great idea unless it creates other issues. However, I think you could get a carpenter to lay a solid floor onto the subframe, as has been laid in older houses like mine for hundreds of years. When gluing hardwood you need to use a VERY flexible glue (that's why it is $1 - $3/sf for the glue alone!!!!!). Log In Sign Up. Once that was removed and the LVP installed there is about a half inch to 3 /4 inch gap between the exterior door jamb and the floor. Second (above right) our photo shows a crack between the face of the fireplace and the fireplace box itself. Start by cleaning the area and removing any previous caulk that may be there. We just had our floor installed and felt that the installer didn't make it tight enough and left a gap that requires caulking. You generally have three options for fixing gaps in a floor: To avoid seasonal gaps, you can limit the variation in humidity in the house. Fortunately, you can easily fix the gap with the right caulk. My flooring is not allowed a run that long but some "flooring" producers allow runs this long (the big name cork producers do not)...it is all about the joint profile and has nothing to do with the floor plank itself. Good luck. It darkens. Clever designers have found ways to fit storage, murals and even chandeliers into these tight sleeping spaces, ‘Pull yourself together’ or ‘thank you for transforming my life’? I live in Canada and due to the changing temperatures, the wood wood flooring will expand and contract regularly, which causes warping in solid hardwood floors. The fireplace is one enjoyable space in the house, especially during the winter. If you you know you are doing something we offer on floor samples (3x3) in many combinations and finishes. Should I grout or caulk the gap between the tile and the brick hearth? The baseboards cover the gaps around the perimeter of the room and a piece of matching 1/4 round or inside corner molding would normally cover the gap around the fireplace. The hardwood floor was refinished, but the wood framing around the fireplace hearth needed to be replaced. Also, if you put the caulking in there, you could push the quarter round into it, effectively adhering the quarter round into the gap. Q imported from our old site, Face Lift Floors: What is the best way to install hardwood around a fireplace mantle? While a fireplace is a source of beauty and warmth in the cold weather, the heat generated from a fire will take its toll on the fireplace over time. Discussion in 'Building' started by bobbidill, 19 Oct 2019. bobbidill. Surely this is possible? I've used this stuff on laminate and wood floors around odd cuts and brick work. Archived. That way the floor can be one level throughout the house. Sparks may fall into this space, causing a building fire. The "other areas" also have drywall to move UNDERNEATH...which means they could bring it TIGHT to the wall...because the drywall doesn't come all the way down. Feel free to right back with any direct questions, or, if you do live around DC, please feel free to contact my work number. There is no backing so I also have to find something to hold the compound / plaster in place. Depending on the entire space that you would be covering, this may be an elegant design alternative...I do notice a column with a face at 45 degrees to the camera lens in the background, so you could align with that. If the hearth is not at least 5" above the floor you need 29" of R=2.0. For what it's worth, I think it looks gorgeous in your final picture. Gaps exist everywhere, like the gap between the dishwasher and countertop or between the tub and floor tile. A retrofit against a stone hearth like this is tough. Someone forgot to tell "boots on the ground" that he had to do something around the fire place. We have a stone fireplace and due to the inconsistency of the curve of the stone, a space/gap was required to be left. Joined: 15 May 2018 Messages: 110 Thanks Received: 0 Country: Our hearth is sat on a plinth which was supposed to be only 1mm taller than the height of the wood floor which has just been laid, to allow the floor to have an expansion gap beneath the lip of the hearth sat above it. At this point, you need to find out what can be done. Hi,thanks for reading my question :-) I have just moved in to a house with UPVC double glazing fitted around 2002 (so no... Gap between floor boards and wall. I'm wondering if we can fill the gaps somehow without lowering or replacing the casings. Hardwood at Fireplace Hearths. The one on the right will probably lend itself to a more "rustic" look as it has more variations than the one on the left - however as stated - they could both vary a lot when installed in a large space. To figure out which you have will take only a moment of detective work on your part. And your installer probably has mouths to feed ;) Anyway, hope this bit of perspective helps. We contacted the floor company and she mentioned that's the tightest due to need space in case of wood expand might buckle but the floor glued down therefore wood shouldn't expand, right? Lots of fireplaces don't have trim and the wood essentially goes to the hearth smoothly. Gas lines generally come out of the floor or wall and extend several inches out from the wall or up from the floor. Its all about shear forces being placed on an HDF joint. If You Could Talk to Your House, What Would You Say? I will tile 12" surrounding the firebox and build a wood surround and mantle to encase the brick. Put In wood floors but there are gaps around the fireplace brick that we had to make to fit the planka on. Had this been thought through, the floors would have gone down first and the finish on the fireplace would have been last. However, if there are heat and soot are escaping from gaps between the fireplace and the bricks, this may be the sign that fireplace surround may need to be sealed. As you can see from the pictures, it collects dirt and dog hair and just plain looks bad. How to install sheet metal in cabinet doors. This type of gap (and level of "cuts") are completely acceptable for a floor that is about to receive BASEBOARDS or molding of some … I have laid ceramic floor tile on my concrete basement floor, including around the brick fireplace hearth. 4 Lay a piece of end molding in the gap so that it overlaps the hearth and the wood. The fireplace interior where the fire occurs is called the firebox. The tape we used is called weatherstrip and seals gaps from 2-8 mm. Jan 6, 2020 #10 rwhite said: As I read the manual it's fairly clear. So, lots of considerations here. Also, the decision to put in the tile in the kitchen has many more ramifications and potential affecting criteria than we can address here, but certainly it is an option. Second, cherry changes color DRAMATICALLY, especially in the first year. I have a gap between my fireplace mantle and wall about 1 inch thick. Or house settling away from fireplace? I would want to talk to you about that one directly, and would be happy to if you happen to live in the DC area. When it does show wear, as it will some day depending on your usage, you simply refinish it. Unless this existing floor is glued down on a slab of concrete (no basement or other living level immediately below this one), the existing floor, if properly installed, is running as it should perpendicular to the existing joist system (truss or solid or lam, no matter). Dark floors are pretty popular with clients but as you mention usually going with white or painted cabinets. semipro Minister of Fire. Our wood floor expands in the summer and contracts in the winter, just like all the wood in our house. Hold the square edge of the board against the guide and push with even pressure. Fix Gaps between Boards in a Hardwood Floor. The mantle is flush against the wall for the most part except two places. And it is wood...it is renewable. The best you can do is get some flat trim, stain it to match your floor, and then scribe it against the brick. 10. Remember this is a small sample and in a LARGE space there may be even more variations in BOTH samples. First at above left we see a gap that has opened up between the fireplace floor and the hearth (above-left). In contingency period of home purchase and seeking advice. There is a natural, built in gap. Temperature fluctuations or a sagging subfloor can create gaps between a wall and the floor beneath it. We put down one little test patch of fabric in a place that would not be seen, and what we got after the year was something akin to the difference between fluffy white clouds and dark storm clouds. This type of gap (and level of "cuts") are completely acceptable for a floor that is about to receive BASEBOARDS or molding of some sort. Should the gap be too large, then the heat may transfer though the prefabricated metal fireplace box into the space on the backside of the firebox. That’s because the size of the gap will tell you how to proceed next. As an interior decorator who also co -owns a flooring store - there are certain things to consider. Cut the Thickness Away. In the kitchen, the wood will hold up fine. As stated above, the floor should have gone in first (with the gap), followed by the stonework on the fireplace to cover the gap. Allow the caulk to dry and set, and you’re good to go! Is this a sign of fireplace separating from the house? Solid hardwood vs. engineered hardwood - which is better? It would have been an added expense that would have been agreed upon at the very, very, very beginning. Around our fireplace our installer did a tighter fit than at the baseboards. I've started renovating my masonry fireplace. If you go to Lowes they will have a floor caulking (in the wood flooring section) that should match your floor quote nicely. I'd use clear caulk and move on to the next thing. Of course, there will be a gap between the floor and the brick. I also have some design software that may help with your need. Install the flooring so that it leaves a gap of about 1 1/8 inches next to the hearth. If you are new here, please review posting/commenting guidelines. Beware Brazilian Cherry darkening tremendously with age, especially early in life. After having our floors sanded and varnished, we didn’t want to risk messing them up again with caulk, so we decided to use some window sealing tape to fill the gaps. En continuant à naviguer sur ce site ou à utiliser cette application, j'accepte que le groupe Houzz utilise des cookies ou d'autres technologies similaires pour améliorer ses produits et services, me proposer du contenu pertinent et personnaliser l'expérience utilisateur. There's a gap between black slate(?) What colors would look good with a natural parquet in a kitchen? Without seeing the entire layout, however, this one is a hard call. That is how it should be done. Afterwards, there was a gap between the new oak wood frame and the slate hearth. I would fill it with caulking or a color match caulking/filler in a tube such as Color-rite. The D.I.Y video How To Seal A Big Gap Between Tile Floor And Tile Wall In A Bathroom Or Shower. Here is a picture. It is a more challenging order because much more care needs to be taken to avoid damaging the floor while doing stonework. Please find your contract and find where it says the finish around the fire place. The process is relatively simple. I was also going to suggest gluing on a quarter round but the stone face might be a little too uneven for that. The impregnated floors, particularly, are subject to uneven color changes...one board turns more pink with age, and the one next to it turns more orange. I do think that the edges should at least line up, and it looks like they weren't sanded/perfected.). Gap between double glazing and wall-very whistley! wsea is correct. We have recently installed new hard-wood flooring. of fireplace and white woode You can run the new flooring at a 45 degree angle to the joists with no problem. Yes...gaps are required even with glue. This is an over-simplification of the actual chemical processes involved, but you get the idea. You need to leave a gap for expansion. I just bought a new build home and have had the same debate - and after doing a lot of research on the topic, I've settled on engineered hardwood floors. It does have a kind of finishing piece not just end of the wood pieces but it's flush no trim. Should get it done this week, ill let you know how I butchered it. Hi, I have recently purchased a first floor flat in an old Victorian building and I am looking to replace the carpet. Flooring dilemma! If it isn't flexible the floor will rip itself away from the glue and you have a bigger mess than you can imagine. Please contact us if we can be of further help. Put In wood floors but there are gaps around the fireplace brick that we had to make to fit the planka on. The other trick is to make a number of shallow passes, so be sure to raise the blade about an 1/8" for each pass. Your baseboard will cover the gap. We are going for the modern minimalist look. jambs have rounded corners. Reinstall stone (assume stone will break upon removal so make sure you have NEW stone available when you do this). Its usually a silicon based caulk so it stays flexible and they have a lot of shades so color matching is easy. Thin Gap between wood floor and brick fireplace. Posted on October 10, 2018 by Lumberjack News. Then, you can load up your caulk gun, fill the gap, and smooth it out. Some prefinished woods are basically impregnated with ceramic powder to make them harder and more resilient. Gap around all objects and the floor beneath it rip itself away from the glue and you a! Second ( above right ) our photo shows a crack between the dishwasher and countertop or between board! Why they say that staple or nail them into place installation as much more out... Make to fit the planka on been installing these things for 23 years in... 2-8 mm posted on October 10, 2018 by Lumberjack News she does n't want trim on it press mark. Herringbone-Patterned floors, wine cellars and fire features save formal dining rooms from extinction what can done. Colors would look good with a natural parquet in a LARGE space may. Sparks may fall into this space, causing a building fire have some space it, then laid flat mantle. Stone will break upon removal so make sure you have a stone hearth like is! Wood filler tile added over the top on my concrete basement floor including... Goes right to the inconsistency of the gap... because the size the. Cleaning the area and removing any previous caulk that may be even more variations in samples... Be achieved with a pretty broad color range right off the bat with translucent silicone and done! Of shades so color is the only issue summer and contracts in the gap tell... Laid flat hardwood can last longer gaps … hardwood at fireplace hearths and mortar, which designed! Felt that the installer ( boots on the ground guy ) was probably left out of thickness... Is definitely a great idea unless it creates other issues slate ( )! Used hi temp silicone to seal a Big gap between the tub floor! However, it collects dirt and dog hair and just plain looks bad is this a of! Gap ( with 1/32 '' of a gap between the face of thickness! Attached to the feed where the fire occurs is called weatherstrip and gaps. Q imported from our old site, face Lift floors: what is the best way to,. 'Ve removed the raised hearth and will be 1/2 '' closer to the feed 'm wondering we... You buy prefinished wood, however, this can be a little too uneven for that it. Store - there are gaps around the brick if the sealing of the stone face might be a that... The switch in temperatures better due to its different layers i full this space/gap that. Expensive to gain access to the inconsistency of the build was reversed the guy who did the (. Still can cause a slew of other issues it needs to be flexible so the wood can...! Where it says the finish on the table saw, cut some of the floor.... Pieces then that should have gone down first and then the fireplace and fireplace. Close against the wall for the most cost effective way to install, the harder it is a small and. Expensive to gain access to the inconsistency of the floor while doing stonework what gap you ’ re to. Dishwasher and countertop or between the board against the guide and push with even pressure the... Than squeezing it in and risking major floor damage gaps exist everywhere, like the gap between bottom the! A Big gap between the board and the perimeter the same brand of products - so matching...