Hi, Having prep'ed my floor, I'm starting to think about installing the 12mm laminate flooring planks through my dining room, hall and lounge. I'm going to need to install a couple of ramp profiles between rooms that will have different finished floor levels by up to 15mm. I also want to install an end profile around a fireplace hearth and across the front door. Some suppliers only sell ramp and end profiles that they say glue to the floor (the laminate in the case the ramps and subfloor (Stopgap 1200) in the case of the end profiles), but I've noticed shopping around on Google that some suppliers offer these profiles with a "gripper channel" that you screw to the floor and that will hold the ramp / end profile in place (example photos attached). I can see these glued profiles, the ramp profiles in particular, being kicked and trod on regularly and the glue failing at fairly short intervals, but also realise it would be an easy fix if they do. I'm also starting to see I need to know exactly what ramp & end profiles I'm going to use and how I'm going to fix them before I start laying the flooring as I'll need to leave the expansion gaps to the gripper channel, which I'd think needs fixing down before starting to lay the planks. My questions are: What are the pros and cons of fixing these profiles "glued" verses "gripper channel"? And will profiles glued to the laminate and subfloor hold well or will they keep coming loose every few months (which is what I'm imagining)? Many thanks in advance.
Those channels don’t work. It’s a good idea as the bar isn’t bonded to your floor allowing for expansion. The reality is they often creek or squeak or come loose. Some of them don’t even hold the bars in place so you have to glue into the channel Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You might also want to take into account how these profiles will look, as they are made of oak, they have to be quite thick to give them strength, which can make them look quite big and bulky and add about another 5mm to the height
So you think I might as well go for the bars without the channels and glue them straight to the floor?
Ok. All the above considered I will probably get the trims from the same supplier as the laminate and just have to hope they look ok. I did see them in their shop and I don't remember thinking they look bulky.
Choosing between glued or gripper channel is an important decision. Glued laminate flooring ramp and end profiles are more expensive but offer a tighter, more secure fit. Gripper channel can be cheaper, but the fit may not be as tight and the pieces may not stay in place as well. Glued profiles also need to be cut with a knife and have a lot of waste. Gripper channel profiles are cut with a saw and have less waste.
