ᐅ Can gaps at the edges of hardwood floors be sealed with silicone?

When installing parquet flooring, a gap remains between the wall and the end of the click-lock parquet panels. This gap is theoretically necessary to allow for expansion of the flooring due to heat.

But how does this work in practice? I have already experienced twice that liquids or buckets were accidentally knocked over and spilled into this very gap.

I would like to fill the gaps with soft, transparent silicone, at least on one side. Are the negative effects really significant or noticeable?

Is there perhaps a special type of silicone designed specifically for this purpose?

Tobias

Yes, you need to use neutral-curing silicone. The one most commonly available is acetic-curing, which could react poorly with the wood. Alternatively, you can use cork strips and insert them (although they are, of course, not as airtight as silicone).