Summary: Learn how to lay floorboards onto joists, lay square-edged boards, lay tongue-and-groove boards, cut around obstacles and cut around a permanent fixture.
When choosing floorboards, you will have to decide whether you want square-edged boards or tongue-and-groove boards, which have concealed fixings.
Before you start, follow the recommended requirements for board sizes.
Starting at one end of the room, lay a board across the joists, leaving a 10mm expansion gap between the board and the walls.
Use two fixings at each point where the board crosses a joist.
Loosely lay the next five rows in place and leaving a gap temporarily lay the next board.
Fit wedges over a joist in the gap between the fifth and sixth boards and a hammer to knock them together.
Repeat at the end of the boards and in the centre to ensure there is a tight joint along the whole length of the boards.
You will need to cut and scribe the last row to fit neatly against the wall.
The method for laying a tongue-and-groove floor is similar to that used above. Tongue-and-groove does not have to end on a on a joist as long as the joists are not further apart than 350-400mm (14in - 16in). Before you start, follow the recommended requirements for board sizes and tongue-and-groove boards.
Fix the board to each joist by driving a nail into the tongue of the board at a 45º angle.
If your boards do not stretch across the room, the ends must butt together over a joist.
Cut and scribe the final board and secure using round lost-head wire nails.
To cut a hole for a pipe:
Mark the position of the pipe on the boards, then push together and drill a hole over the markings.
Use a paper template to mark the shape on your board.
Join an existing conversation or create a new thread related to Floors and stairs in our DIY forum.