Hi I have some 20mm solid oak flooring that I am planing on laying direct onto the existing floorboards in my lounge, using the hidden nail technique. I have a dilemma about which direction I should lay the floor, because I want to lay the boards the length of the room towards the only window, but the existing boards are already running in that direction and everything else I've read says lay the new floor perpendicular to the existing one. Am I ok to lay the new floor in the same direction as the existing boards to make the best use of the light in the room, or am I going to have to lay them across the room instead? The other problem I've got is I hired the floor nailer from HSS today just as they were closing at 1pm, and they had run out of 50mm T cleats. I spent the rest if this afternoon driving round Stockport trying to find somewhere that sells these cleats but all the trade places like Jewsons etc were shut and ruddy Screwfix only stock the 38mm L cleats. I really wanted to start laying the floor tomorrow - has anybody got any bright ideas about places that might be open on a Sunday that would stock these? Thanks in advance! Simon
I have only ever laid them the same way when I have overlaid the floor with 9 or 12mm ply, generally the floor will be up and down and laying them across will take out minor undulations, if you put a board across the floor and you see gaps underneath then I wouldn't lay it with boards. Another hire shop will be your best bet for the nails,if any will be open on Sunday is the question?
Two problems of running the flooring the same direction is: The sods law rule that (as UVcure mentions) is falling on or close to the edge of the floorboards. You are driving cleats through at an angle into timber down grain, close to the edge. This means you can split the floorboard timber or at the least not get a solid fix. This may leave you with one of more fault lines down your floor. Which when expansion occurs can pop the overlaid boards. The second problem is the potential for slight cupping of the floorboards, as the overlay will become a barrier for humidity, thus leaving the surface of the floorboards slightly dryer. Possibly resulting in cupping. This may not be severe, but it doesn't have to be. The result of cupping when running in the same direction is a see saw effect and the potential for movement working the cleats loose. That's my take on it but there maybe other problems that I'm sure my peers will point out..
Love it when joe public tries to install solids. Have you done humidity and damp tests as solids react crazily to moisture Also ply first. Its realy a pro job to install.make surw you leave expansuob as it will.
UVCure and Wes, thanks for the advice. oddbod, I take your point, but I'm not made of money mate so was only after some friendly advice, not trying to give your trade a bad name. I'm under no illusions that a pro fitter would do a great job whereas I will not, but beggars can't be ruddy choosers. For the record though, yes, I took humidity readings this morning which were all within tolerance according to the manufacturer's guidelines. I've also laid a 9mm ply layer today after laying out a load of boards to size up the cuts and realising that the floor has too much cupping to lay in either direction without leveling out first. So now I can lay in either direction as I see fit, though I do have dilemmas about the best way to lay to accommodate the hearth on one wall and bay window on another, but I'll keep those to myself.
