5 1/2″ maple t&g flooring–face screw?
Hi,
Searched the archives on plank flooring and wasn’t able to find a definitive answer to this.
I’m in the process of installing some 5-1/2 x 3/4″ t&g maple flooring from a local mill (some is end-matched, but not all). Just finished one room, blind nailed with 2″ cleats over 3/4″ Advantech and joists. Nailed about every 8″. Joists are 24″ o.c.
Was planning to countersink screws into the faces. Is this recommended? What spacing?
My concern would be to allow for the wood’s seasonal movement. There is 1/2″ expansion space around the perimeter. Wood was brought into the “target” rooms very soon after milling and stored for six weeks. All subflooring is dry, house is weathertight and rooms are kept at fairly consistent temperature and humidity.
Seems two face screws at every joist would be a good idea, but I’ve been reading conflicting notions on this. Any opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ed
Replies
Do you really want it to look a boat deck? Imagine having to plug and chisel everything. Try blind nailing with a flooring nailer instead
I would expect that to cause a lot of splitting and checking at the screws. If you have to do it for appearance or something, I would make the countersink hole oversized.
Excellence is its own reward!
all those screws will look terrible ifyou are worried about warping and cupping seal the bottom side and end grain before laying the floor i recommend a good polyurethane seal it real heavy and let it dry then lay the floor blind nail maybe use some construction adhesive if it is a big room and then sand and finish the top surface do not apply top coat to thick two coats maybe three and the floor will not mar as easy
You have done everything necessary in the installation. The only reason that one would use a screwing process is if you were to add walnut plugs on the ends of the boards. With wide plank (7"+), screws would be added under the plugs as an extra binder. I do not use screws even under plugs with 7" wide oak. I install in the beach cities of South Orange County in So. Cal. and North San Diego County. In other words, we get a fair amount of moisture and I have no problems without screws. I'm a 25 year flooring veteran. As a note, many installers are using urethane glue full spread under any plank 5" and wider. I only use glue under 7+ widths and greater, like wide Pine, Hickory and walnut. GW
Edited 3/20/2003 11:08:11 PM ET by Greg Warren
Edited 3/20/2003 11:11:35 PM ET by Greg Warren