Quickstep laminate - issue with closing piece

[Rob.]

My first time fitting Quickstep laminate, and I'm struggling with fitting the final piece; it's refusing to sit flat. All the joints look OK, and it will sit down with some force, but springs back up again. Anyone else had similar issue? Previous brand had no such issues.

Edited by Rob. on Sunday 19th November 11:16

[KnackeredOldBanger]

It's probably not the right thing to do, but a bead of glue under with something heavy on top? Then skirting board fitted tight over to stop it popping back up in time.

[RSstuff]

I fitted Quickstep to a large room, and the last plank did need to be pulled firmly back into place, before using a block to tap it down on the joint. A couple of pro floor layers recommended Quickstep to me, and they weren't wrong. Your expansion gap doesn't look very wide in that pic though.

[Slowboathome]

You sure the final piece is properly clicked in? I seem to remember having problems with a narrow final piece getting the leverage to click it fully in.

Once it's properly clicked it should lie flat without any additional help.

[The Gauge]

Slowboathome said:

You sure the final piece is properly clicked in? I seem to remember having problems with a narrow final piece getting the leverage to click it fully in.

Once it's properly clicked it should lie flat without any additional help.

^^ This

Work your way along it with your hands firmly pulling it into the other piece, to ensure it has seated properly

[tux850]

Yeah, echoing the 'it's just not quite clicked in all the way along' advice (or diagnosis anyway!). The tongue and groove is precision machined with a very tight tolerance so if it is isn't all sitting in place it won't sit properly. The pull tool is definitely your friend here, and the hammering can really help with shocking the pieces together.

[Rob.]

I've checked the joint for debris, smashed 7 bells out of the pulling tool, tried prying against the wall (just damaged the dot-and-dab board), and standing on the board. It just pops straight back up.

Genuinely considering trying to hold it down with the skirting board.

[mikeiow]

Rob. said:

I've checked the joint for debris, smashed 7 bells out of the pulling tool, tried prying against the wall (just damaged the dot-and-dab board), and standing on the board. It just pops straight back up.

Genuinely considering trying to hold it down with the skirting board.

Mmmmm. Not sure what to say - it's been a few years, but I did our entire ground floor way back with Quikstep: sometimes I got that same kind of issue on a last board, but it was always just not in properly somewhere: a tap with the puller tool would finally make it click into place.
Do any of the grooves perhaps have an imperfection or some grit in them?

Good luck

[Slowboathome]

Rob. said:

I've checked the joint for debris, smashed 7 bells out of the pulling tool, tried prying against the wall (just damaged the dot-and-dab board), and standing on the board. It just pops straight back up.

Genuinely considering trying to hold it down with the skirting board.

When I had a similar problem I had to lever up the adjacent planks a few inches to give allow me to lever down on the final line of planks.

[J6542]

You sure the short join is properly seated as well. Sometimes you need to join all the final run together first. Before clicking it in place as one big piece.

[RSstuff]

Rob. said:

I've checked the joint for debris, smashed 7 bells out of the pulling tool, tried prying against the wall (just damaged the dot-and-dab board), and standing on the board. It just pops straight back up.

It's not fully clicked into the previous board then, perhaps that board is laying lower. Try packing it up along the joint slightly. Or knock a wedge between the wall and the puller.

[mikeiow]

Slowboathome said:

When I had a similar problem I had to lever up the adjacent planks a few inches to give allow me to lever down on the final line of planks.

That’s good advice…..now you mention it, I’m sure there has been once or twice I’ve had to do that: effectively get that last run flat with one or two previous runs, then click the whole lot down.

[The Gauge]

Can you remove the previous row, add the slim pieces to that row and then refit as one, so effectively having two rows joined together which you then fit to the floor as one?

[Rob.]

I think The Gauge might have it. Managed to click it in by removing the previous row. Struggling to get them both back in place, but hopefully will get it by shaving a few mm off the cut face.

[bstw]

I had exactly the same thing when fitting it and found smashing down the length of it with a rubber mallet was the easiest way to get it flat

[The Gauge]

Rob. said:

I think The Gauge might have it. Managed to click it in by removing the previous row. Struggling to get them both back in place, but hopefully will get it by shaving a few mm off the cut face.

Another cause might be of the floor & underlay could be slightly raised in the area up agains the wall, preventing the laminate from going fully flat so it doesn't click into place.

[Mr Pointy]

Rob. said:

I think The Gauge might have it. Managed to click it in by removing the previous row. Struggling to get them both back in place, but hopefully will get it by shaving a few mm off the cut face.

How much expansion gap have you left? The flooring should be clear of the wall.

[Rob.]

Was definitely too tight before. Shaved another 4mm off it and managed to persuade both rows to lockin n place.

[Simpo Two]

The last piece often does that because you can't knock it fully into place. I use a zig-zag piece of metal + hammer to administer the final taps

See https://www.envirobuild.com/products/laminate-floo...

[Mr Pointy]

Rob. said:

Was definitely too tight before. Shaved another 4mm off it and managed to persuade both rows to lockin n place.

The Quickstep site shows the use of temporary spacer blocks all around the edge of the room but rather unhelpfully doesn't give a clue as to how big the gap should be.