Laminate Floor Step Transition

[Shep]

A coworker of mine is installing a floating laminate floor in his kitchen and going into the living room. Going into the living room is a step down that he is trying to figure out. He's got all the laminate down on both floors, but his wife doesn't like the transition piece for the step down. He's asked me to hlep find a better way.

The only other solution that I can come out with is this: Cut back the edge of the laminate by they step to allow more room. Glue down that edge so the boards don't pull away from the new transition. For the transition, install a piece of oak that is the same height as the laminate, and nail it into place.

My biggest question is this: Can a floating floor be glued down on one side?

By the way the step is roughly 12' long.

[drillman88]

My Dad and i just put down laminate flooring down in his home and the instuctions said you could nail down the first line if needed to hold it in place.
you may want to get the manufacturers instruction and read them.
Would it be possible to drill countersinks a little big in diameter in the piece and use brass screws to hold it in place? That should give you a little wiggle room so you don't pull it down too tight.

[jabe]

I would contact the manufacturer b4 nailing or glueing the last row of flooring. All the laminate flooring products I used do not recommend securing down the planks cause they need to expand & contract. That is why you must leave an expansion gap along all the perimeter which would be covered by your base bd., shoe moulding and or transition strips. I have made my own transition peices with a rabbet cut deep & wide enought to include the 5/16" gap + 1/4" to cover the edge of the flooring plank and it would be 1/4" to 3/16" higher than the surface of the laminate floor. Correct me if I'm wrong but the 1/4" height difference @ the transition is acceptable with the ADA.

[bigstick509]

I would contact the manufacturer b4 nailing or glueing the last row of flooring. All the laminate flooring products I used do not recommend securing down the planks cause they need to expand & contract. That is why you must leave an expansion gap along all the perimeter which would be covered by your base bd., shoe moulding and or transition strips. I have made my own transition peices with a rabbet cut deep & wide enought to include the 5/16" gap + 1/4" to cover the edge of the flooring plank and it would be 1/4" to 3/16" higher than the surface of the laminate floor. Correct me if I'm wrong but the 1/4" height difference @ the transition is acceptable with the ADA.

Very good advise. Nice to here from our fiftieths state, my dad lived in Hilo the last 20 years of his life.