New vinyl plank flooring on old kitchen tiles

[Frazer G]

I have laid a new floating vinyl floor (click planks) over old kitchen tiles which were flat but badly marked. I can't reach all the way to the back of the kitchen units so the new flooring ends just inside where the plinths fit. The only down side is I can't meet the usual expansion gap criteria ( the actual gap is probably about 300mm so obviously no worry about any minor thermal expansion!) but as it is a floating floor I am a bit worried it may move too much. I am thinking of gluing some pieces of wood  around the edges of the floor where I can reach under the kitchen units and generating a "false"  expansion gap between these pieces of wood and the new flooring. I would pack this gap with cork or foam. 

 

Would this solution work or is there a better way? For the record the kitchen units are in perfect condition so no reason the disturb the whole installation. 

[Nickfromwales]

1 hour ago, Frazer G said:

I have laid a new floating vinyl floor (click planks) over old kitchen tiles which were flat but badly marked. I can't reach all the way to the back of the kitchen units so the new flooring ends just inside where the plinths fit. The only down side is I can't meet the usual expansion gap criteria ( the actual gap is probably about 300mm so obviously no worry about any minor thermal expansion!) but as it is a floating floor I am a bit worried it may move too much. I am thinking of gluing some pieces of wood  around the edges of the floor where I can reach under the kitchen units and generating a "false"  expansion gap between these pieces of wood and the new flooring. I would pack this gap with cork or foam. 

 

Would this solution work or is there a better way? For the record the kitchen units are in perfect condition so no reason the disturb the whole installation. 

If the flooring isn’t tight up against anything then it can expand all it likes? 
 

The only issue here is whether the floor will ‘walk’ eg start to move when you’re walking over it daily.

 

Do the cuts work out that it’s just under one plinth but then further under another? A pic would help, plus how wide and long is the kitchen floor area please? 

[Frazer G]

The floor area is about 2 x 3m plus the "hidden" area under the units. The kitchen units are on 3 sides

[FuerteStu]

I had similar in a previous place.. Was concerned about it 'walking'. 

 

So I ran a thick bead of silicone along the edges behind the plinth. My logic was that it would form a barrier with a little bit of give in it. 

 

I'm not sure if it ever actually did anything other than give me peace of mind. 

[Nickfromwales]

Thanks.

 

You only need expansion at the edges, so the rule is not to have this shoe-horned into the 4 opposite walls for eg, otherwise it lifts in the centre (pillows up), so with the flooring pressing against the legs and the area being so small, I'd just have it captive left and right, and then lift the legs and shoot under where the plinth heater is, as the worst expansion (negligible anyways) will be lengthways there.

[Nickfromwales]

Just now, Nickfromwales said:

captive left and right

I mean just using the legs as a stay to stop the floor walking, but when you get to the far doorway it'll be held there too so doubt you have anything to worry about here at all tbh.

[Frazer G]

Thanks for all your inputs. I didn't "stand" the legs on the planks as I thought that would definitely stop any chance of expansion / shrinkage But I like the suggestion of putting a retainer on the left and right so that is now my plan. If there are reports of a kitchen floor making its way up the M5 you will know where it came from!

Thanks