Vinyl plank big gaps

[yartin]

Hi

A friend of mine has an issue in her vinyl plank flooring in the kitchen, I haven't been there so don't know everything.

As in the pics, gaps are developing as she says gradually of up to 10cm. The 2 pics are opposite each other in the kitchen, the gaps of adjacent row of planks. She doesn't know whether the planks or units were fitted first but because she says not all units were replaced then assume planks were installed last, also she don't know how far planks go under units and appliances.

The small gap side is the oven onto external wall, the other side 10cm gap is the sink onto internal wall. It is ground floor but have no idea whether concrete or suspended if matters. Each plank is 200mm wide.

I can also see brown board underlay in the pic. No sign of glue so assume T&G click type planks sitting on hard board.

Any idea what causing the gap?

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[Someone-Else]

Only a guess.
Its your friend. Is your friend walking on the "planks" there is your problem. NO, not joking. If a plank is friction fit and you walk on it improperly the plank will slide (as shown in the picture) all you need do is slide them back. This is not as bad as it sounds, I cant remember 100% how its done, but it was something like stick a small block of wood to the plank with double sided sticky tape, hit the block with a mallet, so putting the plank back where it should be, then removing the block. You can find it on the great university of youtube.

[yartin]

Only a guess.
Its your friend. Is your friend walking on the "planks" there is your problem. NO, not joking. If a plank is friction fit and you walk on it improperly the plank will slide (as shown in the picture) all you need do is slide them back. This is not as bad as it sounds, I cant remember 100% how its done, but it was something like stick a small block of wood to the plank with double sided sticky tape, hit the block with a mallet, so putting the plank back where it should be, then removing the block. You can find it on the great university of youtube.

Thank you for the reply

Your explanation makes sense, she is very worried if something big and costly. I have seen the vids you're referring to, they use 4X2 timber, double sided tape and hammer to push planks back to place. Anyway to stop it happening again?

[dewaltdisney]

Glue along the tongues would fix it.

DWD

[Razor]

It's not vinyl it's laminate flooring and you're correct it's the hardboard that's allowing it to slide.

You will be able to push it back but once done I would take the plinths off and fit some lengths of 2"x1" timber to the subfloor where the flooring finished to prevent it happening again.

You will need to leave around 10mm gap between the timber and the flooring at each end to allow for expansion but that will be hidden under the plinths

[yartin]

It's not vinyl it's laminate flooring and you're correct it's the hardboard that's allowing it to slide.

You will be able to push it back but once done I would take the plinths off and fit some lengths of 2"x1" timber to the subfloor where the flooring finished to prevent it happening again.

You will need to leave around 10mm gap between the timber and the flooring at each end to allow for expansion but that will be hidden under the plinths

Thank you for the reply

I don't think I can screw 2X1 timber under units, can I glue it to subfloor may be with gripfill?

[Razor]

Yes that would work. I'd use CT1 though, Gripfill hasn't been the best for years now