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Glam Journal

Do you remove the spacers after installing laminate flooring?

Author

Ava White

Updated on April 04, 2026

Do you remove the spacers after installing laminate flooring?

During installation, use spacers or carpenter shims to ensure the proper expansion gap is maintained along all walls of the room. These spacers/shims will be removed after you’re finished installing your new laminate floor.

How much gap should you leave for laminate flooring?

When laying laminate flooring it is essential that you leave at least a 10-12mm expansion gap around the perimeter of the floor.

Does vinyl flooring need spacers?

Click-Lock vinyls need an expansion gap to expand and contract as a floating floor. Use shims or spacers along the perimeter walls. Do check your subfloor with a level. Lumps and dips are hard to see with the naked eye.

Do you leave gap between skirting and laminate flooring?

With laminate or tiles, there is the requirement of a small gap between the flooring and the skirting board. Therefore, skirting boards shouldn’t have any contact with the floor and should be fitted after the flooring has been installed.

How big should spacers be for laminate flooring?

Typically, laminate flooring calls for a gap of 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch. Spacers often come with the flooring, or you may purchase them separately. You can also make spacers yourself by cutting pieces of 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch plywood. Place at least two spacers along the wall that runs parallel to the long direction of your laminate flooring planks.

Where do you Lay spacers on a new floor?

Lay spacers along the wall that runs parallel to the long direction of the flooring, and opposite of the first wall. At this point, you can remove the spacers you used earlier since the floor is nearly complete and not likely to shift as you finish the installation.

How big of a gap do you need for laminate flooring?

Without an expansion gap, laminate floors would buckle as the material took on moisture in the air. Spacers help create the gap when you install the floor. Typically, laminate flooring calls for a gap of 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch. Spacers often come with the flooring, or you may purchase them separately.

Do you use shims or spacers when laying flooring?

Something you want to consider before you even start laying your floor is what you’re going to use as spacers. One thing is you want to make sure all your spacers are the same size. I actually like to go ahead and use a shim for that because all these door shims are right about the same size. They aren’t going to vary a whole lot.

How are spacers used in laminate flooring installation?

Check out our helpful guide to learn more about laminate flooring. SimpleSolutions Installation Spacers are used to maintain a proper expansion space between your floor and walls during installation. Spacers cover expansion gaps between 1/8 in. and 3/8 in. Installation spacers minimize movement of the floor during installation.

What are the biggest mistakes when installing laminate flooring?

11 Biggest Mistakes When Installing Laminate Flooring. Laminate flooring like any other wood floor expands and shrinks, adjusting to the environment. For example, bringing cold laminate to warm room and installing it right away, even you will leave recommended expansion gap will be not enough to avoid buckling.

Without an expansion gap, laminate floors would buckle as the material took on moisture in the air. Spacers help create the gap when you install the floor. Typically, laminate flooring calls for a gap of 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch. Spacers often come with the flooring, or you may purchase them separately.

Something you want to consider before you even start laying your floor is what you’re going to use as spacers. One thing is you want to make sure all your spacers are the same size. I actually like to go ahead and use a shim for that because all these door shims are right about the same size. They aren’t going to vary a whole lot.