How long do floor boads take to dry out and not shrink?

[Brian L]

I want to lay a wood floor in a room that has central heating but the last time I did it large gaps opened up between the floor boards within a couple of weeks.
I wonder if it would be worth laying the boards loose on the joists and leaving them for a while before I nail them. The question is, how long would I need to leave them so that there is a good chance that they do not shrink and create the gaps that I had last time.

 

[andymarshal]

Hi mate get good quality boards and they should dry in 2 weeks. When fitting them use floor board clamps and when you screw, angle tthe screw to hold it against the previuos board if you get what i mean. dont nail use screws.

Andy

 

[Brian L]

Thanks for that. I've now started to think about what varnish or stain and the first one I tried I was not impressed with because it looks as though it is a stain/varnish and not at all natural.
I wonder if its worth hiring an industrial sander and going over the floor because when you pick the test piece of board I used and hold it at an angle it shows all the imperfections of the wood. If it was a log cabin that would be great but it will be our living room.

 

[andymarshal]

Brian as far as i am aware timber floorboards are purely structural and not really for decorative use ie knots drop out etc plus you have to have a wacking great screw in the middle of them. But yes an industrial sander from somewhere like hss hire will do the job but it will be very noisy to walk on especially if you are above someone ie a bedroom or a flat.

I would be inclined to lay laminate or solid timber flooring over the top.

Just my opinion

Andy