Laying Tongue & Groove Floorboards?

[datasafe]

Hi guys

We have recently (8 weeks ago) had the floor in our dining room levelled with a self-levelling compound and now plan to lay new T&G floorboards.

I may have been rather hasty in my decision to purchase the T&G floorboards but hey ho! The floorboards are about 1" think and 4.2metres in length.

My question is, what lengths should I cut the boards to? I want to avoid having continual lines, rather have a more random effect.

Any advice/suggestions would be gratefully received

Thanks

 

[foxhole]

How are you fixing ? Staggered boards would be less secure than single boards end to end .( no t&g on the ends).

 

[datasafe]

Thanks for the reply.

I planned laying 5mm gold foil insulation/DPM and placing the floorboard on top. Using a bead of glue along the top edge of the tongue As you say, there's no T&G at the ends of the board where they'll be cut.

I could use the entire length of the board as the room measures 3.8m x 3.3m - the boards are 4.2m long.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I have to admit that when laying oak flooring at least a percentage of what we are supplied is random lengths - whilst single strips may be a little stronger in theory, it looks as boring as hell to my (admittedly jaundiced) eye. Some flooring suppliers can supply end jointing cutters for use with a router as well, but if you think about it traditional softwood T&G boarding didn't have end tongues or grooves. What adhesive are you using?

 

[datasafe]

I agree with your comment = boring in long lengths. I think the cuts give a bit of character and colour changes at the cut that looks nice.

I'm not sure which glue would be the best choice - I've never done this before but have time to get it looking good - I hope

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I'd tentatively suggest a D4 PVA (NOT a PU glue under any circumstances) because glue squeeze-out can be wiped-off with a damp cloth (providing you are quick) and because floors ideally need waterproof glues. With T&G flooring you'll ideally need some form of cramping to pull the joints together until the glue sets

 

[datasafe]

Thanks for all the suggestions and tips.

I'm beginning to think I need to get a pro in to do this job! I have watched a few videos on YouTube and not seen the use of clamping although I'm sure I read about it somewhere I wonder what is used to clamp? Do you know a brand of D4 PVA glue?

Thanks

John

 

[Deleted member 174758]

For D4 PVA try EverBuild from Toolstation, amongst other places:

Cramping on floating engineered or laminate flooring is often achieved with sets available from flooring suppliers. What does your flooring supplier recommend?

That is a top of the line Bessey (trade) set, but TBH the expansion joints at the edges can be dealt with by using simple folding wedges or packers and there are far cheaper band cramps around for one off jobs. This video shows how they are used whilst a longer video showing a (speeded-up) installation can be found here. Note that in the second video the installer is using home-made spacers, but also that he is wearing substantial knee pads (very necessary, although for a one off one of those foam gardening kneeling pads would suffice) and that he is making use of a non-marring rubber mallet (this should be white to prevent marring)

 

[datasafe]

Thanks to everyone for your advice.

As I said, I was overly hasty when I purchased standard pine T&G floorboards from a local builders merchants to do the job - I should have done my research first!

Anyway, as I paid for the boards a few months ago I might as well have a go, the worst that can happen is that it all ends up in the log burner