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First you have to fit the floor to determine how the layout will go.
Place down the new flooring at right angles to floor joists, leaving
a ¾ inch space along every edge of the room. This will ensure you
achieve a straight alignment.
On the end wall near the corner of the starting wall, mark a spot ¾
of an inch plus the width of the floor.
On the opposite corner make another mark in the same way and snap a
chalk line between the two marks.
The first strip goes down tongue edge out from the wall - nail it 1
inch from the grooved edge using 6d or 8d galvanized or screw-shank
flooring nails for best results.
Make sure you drive the nails right into the top surface of the
strips and countersink with nail set (face nailing). You will have
to place the nails over supporting joists and near the ends of
strips. To avoid splits, predrill nail holes.
Keep the starter strip aligned with the chalk line - blind nail it
through the tongue as well. In fact, it's best to blind nail the
first 2 or 3 runs of flooring strips. The technique: put nails into
the tongue edge at a 40 degree angle and make sure they are
countersunk with a nail set. You can nail the rest of the strips
after that with a power floor nailer.
In a staggered pattern lay out 7 or 8 rows of flooring end to end,
leaving end joints 6 inches apart. Cut pieces of floor that will fit
within ½ inch of the end wall.
Dry fit the floor to ensure the layout is what you're looking for.
Laying the floor
Before nailing, check that each tongue-and-groove joint is tightly
seated together.
Keep installing the floorboards across the room until you reach the
opposite wall with the ¾ inch expansion space that you had on the
first wall. Ensure that all the joints are tight.
To achieve a proper fit it may be necessary to saw one row of
flooring strips lengthwise - this is called ripping.
To avoid nailing into a subfloor joint, place flooring strips so
that they don't meet over subfloor joints. You'll have less squeaky
floors this way and the floor will be stronger.
When you can't use the nailing machine you will have to blind nail.
On the last runs, where you can't blind nail, face nail. For 2 ¼
inch strips, the last 2 or 3 runs require face nailing - the same
goes for a ripped strip if one has been used. Before face nailing
these pieces, use a pry bar or lever device for tightening.
After laying the strips, sand the floor. |
