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Ten years in and I still skip expansion gaps in closets
I just finished a wood floor install in a small closet without adding an expansion gap. It turned out fine and saved me a bunch of time, even though everyone says it's a must. Am I the only one who thinks this rule is too strict for tiny spaces?
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the_shane8mo ago
Honestly, we cut corners on small stuff all the time and it works out.
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amy_nguyen777mo ago
Yeah, cutting corners "all the time" is what gets you... I've seen it bite people on bigger jobs where they thought the same logic applied. Small closets are one thing, but that mindset can creep into areas where wood really does need to expand. It works until the one time it doesn't, and then you're fixing a real mess.
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blake_owens8mo ago
Paige_craig's point about wood not having room to move in small closets is spot on. The walls hold everything so tight that expansion is hardly an issue. That's why skipping the gap there is a common sense move that rarely causes trouble.
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paige_craig8mo ago
My last job was a 4x5 closet and I skipped the gap too. It's been solid for two years now, no buckling or anything. I mean, for tiny spaces like that, the wood doesn't have much room to move anyway.
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