I'm going to renovate an old pine floor ie sand & varnish the boards etc. but
there are gaps between the boards. I don't want to lift and relay the boards
so I plan to fill the gaps (various 3-5mm) I was thinking of wedge shaped pine
strips glued in and levelled off but I've heard rumours of cord or rope being
inserted into gaps.
Has anyone had experience of either of these techniques or any other
suggestions?
I know this isn't exactly cutting edge woodwork but any info would be
gratefully received
Actually the "rope trick" is an age old and very affective method of filling
the gaps. I dismantled a floor that was from all appearance built that way.
I would definitely consult the home repair listserve. I'm thinking they will
recommend using a natural fiber wound (not braided) rope made from probably
Sisal. The floor itself was very unique and I would recommend at least
testing it.
EJ
[email protected] (JohnMBrebner) wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> I'm going to renovate an old pine floor ie sand & varnish the boards
> etc. but there are gaps between the boards. I don't want to lift and
> relay the boards so I plan to fill the gaps (various 3-5mm) I was
> thinking of wedge shaped pine strips glued in and levelled off but
> I've heard rumours of cord or rope being inserted into gaps.
> Has anyone had experience of either of these techniques or any other
> suggestions?
> I know this isn't exactly cutting edge woodwork but any info would be
> gratefully received
How is the current floor nailed down? T&G with hidden nails or perhaps
just face nailed? It might make a difference.
"JohnMBrebner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm going to renovate an old pine floor ie sand & varnish the boards etc.
but
> there are gaps between the boards. I don't want to lift and relay the
boards
> so I plan to fill the gaps (various 3-5mm) I was thinking of wedge shaped
pine
> strips glued in and levelled off but I've heard rumours of cord or rope
being
> inserted into gaps.
> Has anyone had experience of either of these techniques or any other
> suggestions?
> I know this isn't exactly cutting edge woodwork but any info would be
> gratefully received
Be careful how well you fill the gaps. The boards will move with the
seasons and if you fill the too tight when shrunk for the winter, they can
buckle when the summer humidity comes. That is why rope is often used as a
filler.
If you don't get a definitive answer here, contact someone at your local
historical society and they can recommend someone that is knowledgeable
about restoration.
Ed
On 14 Jan 2004 18:32:02 GMT, [email protected] (JohnMBrebner)
wrote:
>I'm going to renovate an old pine floor ie sand & varnish the boards etc. but
>there are gaps between the boards. I don't want to lift and relay the boards
>so I plan to fill the gaps (various 3-5mm) I was thinking of wedge shaped pine
>strips glued in and levelled off but I've heard rumours of cord or rope being
>inserted into gaps.
>Has anyone had experience of either of these techniques or any other
>suggestions?
>I know this isn't exactly cutting edge woodwork but any info would be
>gratefully received
I've got old pumpkin pine floors in my house (currently hidden by
hideous wall to wall carpet - that was intended to get the kids
through the crawling stage but has hung around for far to long beyond
that).
The gaps in old pine floors are part of the charm, but for those who
insist on gapless floor, some mechanics put the same material that
plumbers use in a wiped lead joint down into the gaps (oakum). It
comes in rolls. The trick is to set the stuff down into the gap with
a caulking iron or a flooring chisel, leaving some space at the top,
and then the floor sanding will fill the rest of the space with dust
that should not be removed prior to coating. It's more or less the
same technique that boat builders used to use in caulking seams.
Once I tear this carpet up, I'll be leaving the gaps. The kids are
old enough to deal with them now.
Thomas J. Watson-Cabinetmaker (ret)
Real Email is: tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet
Website: http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1
JohnMBrebner wrote:
> I'm going to renovate an old pine floor ie sand & varnish the boards
> etc. but there are gaps between the boards. I don't want to lift and
> relay the boards so I plan to fill the gaps (various 3-5mm) I was
> thinking of wedge shaped pine strips glued in and levelled off but
> I've heard rumours of cord or rope being inserted into gaps.
> Has anyone had experience of either of these techniques or any other
> suggestions?
> I know this isn't exactly cutting edge woodwork but any info would be
> gratefully received
You may also want to post to alt.home.repair. Lots of flooring discussions
over there.
-- Mark