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Carpets, Lino & Flooring

New laminate floor over vinyl in kitchen Should I leave gap around kick board? How can I hide it?

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.15 PM

Looking to lay a new wood laminate floor throughout downstairs and in to my kitchen. Currently the kickboard is in place and sealed with silicone along the base to a vinyl floor. I was thinking about laying the floor directly on top of the vinyl as this is about the same depth as the laminate underlay, but then I don't know what to do on the edges in the kitchen if I take this approach. If I leave a 10mm gap at the kickboard, how's the best way to hide it? I'm sure it's probably best to remove the kickboard and rip it down so that the flooring slides underneath but I don't really have the tools, and if I do should I then re-seal it with silicone? It's a new build house and I could pull up the vinyl but with it being sealed with silicone under the kickboard I'm reluctant and wanted to make my life as easy as possible.

Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?

4 Answers

Sylvester Alenkhe

Rating: 5 out of 5

Dartford

Hi, if the floor is perfectly leveled, you can use the lino as an underlay for the floor. the lino is already serving as a damp proof membrane. Regarding the edges in the kitchen, you will need to first take off the kickboards. Using a Stanley knife, scribe a line all through the sealant which will make it easier to pull the kickboard out. Lay the laminate under as close to the legs of the base units get someone to help you trim down the kickboards and then refit it in. If I were you I wouldn't use sealants for the kickboards simply because every time you need to get access under the base units, you will have to spend time removing the sealant before you can take off the kickboards. I would use a transparent PVC Plinth Sealing Strip. just click it under the kickboards and then install it. Good luck.

Answered26 May 2020

RDH Flooring

Rating: 5 out of 5

Chelmsford

If I were you I'd take the extra time to trip the kick boards. This can be easily done with a jig saw , or circular saw. If you have neither you will struggle with fitting the laminate , and I wouldn't recommend leaving the vinyl down, it can "sweat" under the laminate and could cause it to blow , and if it's stuck down all over I will still recommend uplift it, however you could probabaly lay underlay on top but I'd use one with a Damp prof membrane in if I were you. Best of luck

Answered4 July 2017

Prygon Bespoke Joinery

Rating: 5 out of 5

Arlesey

Ideally, you should remove the kick board while laying laminate flooring and trim it down accordingly after and refit it. But as you said above, you'd like to avoid it. In that case you could go for floor beading same you'd use to cover the gap between flooring and skirting board. Might not look as good as done 'proper' way though. And yes you should leave 10mm expansion gap.

Answered3 July 2017

Strike carpentry ltd

Rating: 5 out of 5

Sheffield

Hi ...you need to uplift the lino , remove the kick boards lay the underlay recommended by the laminate manufacturer and lay the laminate flooring under your cabinets. Then cut your plinth to suit, then seal with a thin silicone bead. The finished job will speak for itself . Good luck .(give me a bell if your struggling.)

Answered17 April 2020