I just moved into my first home and had a "friend" help with the installation of DuPont Laminate Flooring. They're click-lock planks and floating installation on a concrete subfloor. When he was done laying down all the planks, I noticed some major expansion gaps he'd left along the wall and around the door casing. Yes...he cut around the door casing instead of cutting the casing down and installing the floor underneath. So, now I'm left with huge gaps, some up to as much as 1-1/4" wide! I've been able to find a chair rail that's wide enough to lay down as baseboard to cover most of the gaps (hoping the floors won't expand/contract too much beyond where they are now). And have also purchased thick plinth blocks to help cover some of the gap around the door casing. However, I'm left with 2 major problems still:

(1) How do I cover up the expansion gap that are on the inside of the door casing which won't be covered by the chair rail or plinth block

(2) Is there any kind of filler I can or should use between the wall and the laminate floor in case there is expansion/contraction? I'm afraid given the large gaps that if the floor expands too much, I'll start to see gaps joints. And, conversely, if the floor contracts too much, that the expansion gaps will start to peek out from under the chair rails I'm using as baseboards.

A picture of the problem can be found at http://www.craigslist.org/pen/wan/111586194.html

Any help is appreciated!!! Thank you!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: chsu121,

Well,
I would say give the floor a couple of months to expand. Laminate will expand more that it will contract. Sorry to hear about the door jamb situation. Viewed the picture, wow. That is non- fixable. That is the biggest problem when someone installs it with a buddy. I would get more board and take it apart and get a pro for help. You can purchase laminate putty at either Lowe's or HD. It, unfortunatly, will still show.

very very good luck

Now I'm not going to speak for all laminate flooring products, but 1/4" to 3/8" as tops is all that is required.
For areas that you can't hide, you'll have to go to a chalking as a fill.