I have recently laid a solid wood floor ontop of standard floor boards. The skirting board is not yet fitted but we get incredible draughts coming through the gap left around the edge of the wood floor (left for expansion). I realise the skirting board will help but I think it would be wise to try and plug the gaps.

Any suggestions on what to put in the gap that will not stop the solid wood floor from expanding. Current thinking is to use thin strips cut from some sort of underlay board stuck in place with mastic type material.

cork strips?

I put quadrant on the skirting board – if you only attach it to the skirting the wooden floor can still ‘float’ but it removes the gap.

Just slap some flexible sealant in there. Isn’t there some coloured stuff especially for this? (Sorry if I’m talking crap)

Expanding foam’s good. Cork also but a bit of a faff.

Wouldnt go bunging up the expansion gap with anything tbh – just fit the skirtings.

You can purchase rolls of foam strip in various colours thicknesses and widths if there’s a tolerance between sections of the underside of the skirting and the FFL. Uneven shadow gaps look naff but so will a quadrant if it’s following an uneven floor surface.

Drafts- you cant beat them.
Good circulation of fresh air; stops build-up of stale air, dampness, radon etc.

cork strips