Skirting/floor gaps

[iabm12]

Hi all,

Just looking for advice before I get someone in.

Almost all the floors upstairs have laminate in them which I think has been down a while. We’ve not long moved in.

Long story short we’ve had and keep finding issues that need fixing.

There seems to be gaps between the laminate and the skirting and we’re not sure why of it it’s just been done that way. For example in the landing corridor there is a gap I can get the tip of my fingers in. It’s tigger at the end of the room but a gap in the middle. Same for one or two of the bedrooms, gaps in the middle and tighter at the ends.

The house was built in 1984 and only had two owners before us. I’m sure some of the rooms it’s due to being carpet and then wood floor being down but wondered what your thoughts were.

Pics attached.

TIA.

 

[robinbanks]

It's a shadow gap; all the rage these days. Chuck some LED lighting in there to be really nifty and modern

Tongue in cheek aside, what bothers you about it? Aesthetic or practical concerns?

 

[crazydaze]

The floor will undulate, the skirts are probably installed level.

Only option would be to remove skirts and scribe the bases to the floor level - a nightmare.

 

[Deluks]

The original carpet and underlay was probably thicker than the laminate and (hopefully they've used) underlay.
You could use foam backer rod or cork expansion strips and caulk over.

 

[iabm12]

Thanks for the replies. It's like it in most of the upstairs rooms. I assume at some point the floors where carpet and have just had laminate down and they've not used a decent underlay. The only thing that throws me is the fact it's tighter at the ends and then has the gap in the middle.

I wonder, could this be fixed by using a decent underlay board (s) and a better laminate. I'm sure the laminate that is down is at least 10 years old. The one in a bedroom is the same as what I pulled up downstairs and it was stamped with a date in 2005 on it.

I just always think the worse when it comes to issues - probably because I'm absolutely clueless as to DIY.

Thanks again
B.

 

[Deluks]

Laminate upstairs is a bit unusual, was it a rental property?
For bedrooms and landings carpet is preferable. Less noisy, more comfortable to walk in when you have to get up in the night etc.
Get some quotes for carpet and weigh up the the pros and cons.

 

[crazydaze]

I sincerely hope those skirtings weren’t fitted like that with carpet in the room, they should be fitted tight to the floor and the carpet fitted against them, not underneath.

Those skirts were fitted over the top of the laminate to hide the expansion gap, they could have been scribed to the floor but that’s alot of work.

The floor is uneven.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

The photos aren't helpful, to judge it needs photos looking at the whole skirting runs.

 

[dazlight]

Get some wood quadrant around the perimeter

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Nooooooooooooooooo, not the quadrant!

 

[robinbanks]

I just always think the worse when it comes to issues

I think you're seeing an issue where there is none. It's not an indicator your floor is going to suddenly collapse. Just go about your life and soon the universe will deliver you a more serious problem to worry about/distract you