Installing Wood Flooring Without Tongue And Groove

Engineered tongue and groove planks.

Installing wood flooring without tongue and groove.

Tongue and groove edges lock hardwood flooring planks together along the seams ensuring a snug fit and hiding finishing nails but it is possible to install a wood floor without an interlocking. For tongue and groove flooring drive a nail at a 45 degree angle through the tongue then conceal it by engaging the groove of the next board. How to nail down a tongue groove wooden floor without a power nailer. The 3 4 in thick solid plank flooring shown is milled with a tongue and groove.

The type of installation you choose will depend on your subfloor budget lifestyle and the type of wood flooring you select. When you nail tongue and groove flooring properly the nails are invisible so american floor installers call the process. If the subflooring is in good shape nail it down without the plywood assuming the engineered wood is of good quality and 1 2 in. For instance solid hardwood flooring is typically nailed down during installation while tongue and groove engineered flooring is usually clicked together or completely glued down.

Although tongue and groove solid hardwood flooring does fit together it must still be nailed to a subfloor. To keep the wide boards from cupping you ll face nail them with cut nails driven through the subfloor and into the joists photo 18. Be sure to countersink the nail drive it slightly below the surface of the wood to prevent interference in the joint. The tongue and groove pine flooring must run perpendicular to the floor joists.

Pro tips for installing tongue and groove flooring.