I installed the stuff for awhile make sure he follows all the instructions and yes u have to leave a gap around the outside or it will buckle and get all the correct pieces too edging and so forth it sounds alittle legoish when its down so its better to put foam or tar paper down underneath on the floor first and keep all the peices the same way(all the ears to the back and away from u) and start from the door snap each row together then snap the rows to each other,lay the ntire floor minus the cuts then cut thedge in u can also cut 4 or five pieces at once on a table saw or snap a row together then cut it with the circular saw.