Step-by-Step Guide: Learn How to Lay Floating Tongue and Groove Flooring – Part 2

When laying tongue and groove flooring, you must pay careful attention to the spacing. You will want to leave an expansion gap in between each board of approximately 1/8 inch. This will ensure that the boards have room to contract and expand with the changing temperature and humidity of your climate. As you are laying boards down, you will want to wedge them apart by using a scrap piece of wood. The wedge should be at least 1/4 inch thick. This will provide you with the appropriate gap between boards.

Once your vertical rows are finished, you are ready to start laying your fourth row. This row will be perpendicular to the previous rows. You may need to start this row with a cut piece of board. To do this, measure the distance between the wall and the last board of the third row. Add 1/8 inch for the expansion gap and make a pencil mark on the board. Place the board under your saw and cut to the appropriate dimension. Once the cut board is firmly pressed down, continue laying boards in the same manner as the previous rows.

Once you finish laying the entire floor, you are ready to start installing the baseboard trim. This is the trim piece that goes along the edge of your walls. The trim will be held in place with finishing nails and needs to be cut to the appropriate length to fit the wall. Cut out a piece of trim to the length of the wall and hold it up against the wall for a test fit. If the piece is the appropriate size, drive a finishing nail into each stud and make sure the trim is tight against the wall.

Now that the floating tongue and groove flooring has been completed, it is ready to be cleaned and enjoyed! Sweep the floor to make sure that there is no debris or dirt left. Then you can use a mop with a mild cleaner and warm water to clean the floor and prep it for the finish. You may want to apply a protective sealant to the floor to ensure that the beauty of the tongue and groove flooring stays intact.

Laying a floating tongue and groove flooring is an exciting project to complete. Once the installation is done, you can enjoy the beautiful flooring in your home. Follow these steps and you will be able to create a beautiful hardwood floor that can last for many years to come.