I am installing an oak tounge and groove floor in our downstairs den.
The foyer leading into the den already has oak flooring and we
purchased the same type. It matches almost exactly and since the
existing floor is only 4 years old, I would like to tie the floors
together as cleanly as possible.
What is the most common method of tying floors together. Currently
there is a oak threshold piece that runs between the carpet and the
ends of the boards in the foyer. I assume the floor boards have been
cut off so the groove won't be there on some. I really would like to
not have the threshold left in but also would like to create a stagger
on the joints so there isn't a straight line. seperating the two
rooms.
Any and all suggestions greatly welcomed.
Bill
P.S. One more thing, if your doorway is in the center of the room and you
have to start your flooring in the center, don't forget to purchase or make
some spline, as you will have to reverse the direction of the flooring in
the room. (a spline will connect groove to groove in case you didn't
now) --dave
"D Steck" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>I am installing an oak tounge and groove floor in our downstairs den.
>> The foyer leading into the den already has oak flooring and we
>> purchased the same type. It matches almost exactly and since the
>> existing floor is only 4 years old, I would like to tie the floors
>> together as cleanly as possible.
>>
>> What is the most common method of tying floors together. Currently
>> there is a oak threshold piece that runs between the carpet and the
>> ends of the boards in the foyer. I assume the floor boards have been
>> cut off so the groove won't be there on some. I really would like to
>> not have the threshold left in but also would like to create a stagger
>> on the joints so there isn't a straight line. seperating the two
>> rooms.
>>
>> Any and all suggestions greatly welcomed.
>>
>> Bill
>>
>
> When I put the floor down in my house, I did the entire lower level.
> Because of the fact that the floor went around a series of walls in two
> different rooms, when it finally met itself to come back together, I was
> told to expect it to not join up perfectly - and it didn't. What I did,
> was take two boards and lay them perpendicular to the rest and then let
> the tongues in the end boards fit into the groove on the perpendicular
> board. This was sort of a threshold concept but it wasn't raised. It also
> worked that I made the joint at the opening for the dining room so it
> helped that there was a doorway there.
>
> If you're at a similar spot where you're at a doorway, you can do the same
> thing. I walk past this spot everyday and never notice the 'break' in the
> floor and I even know it's there.
>
> I also considered calling attention to the break by using an inlay piece
> available from the hardwood flooring dealer but decided against it.
>
> If you're out in the middle of the room, then I would consider using the
> same technique but using a different type of wood and then make a border
> around the entire den using this wood. That way, you can still tie it
> together but have the added feature of a border that will make it look
> like you intended that way.
>
>
>
[email protected] wrote:
>I am installing an oak tounge and groove floor in our downstairs den.
>The foyer leading into the den already has oak flooring and we
>purchased the same type. It matches almost exactly and since the
>existing floor is only 4 years old, I would like to tie the floors
>together as cleanly as possible.
>
>What is the most common method of tying floors together. Currently
>there is a oak threshold piece that runs between the carpet and the
>ends of the boards in the foyer. I assume the floor boards have been
>cut off so the groove won't be there on some. I really would like to
>not have the threshold left in but also would like to create a stagger
>on the joints so there isn't a straight line. seperating the two
>rooms.
>
Although it will be "close" it will never match exactly. IMHO, trying to make
it match is going to look like a mistake. Make it look like you *meant* to do
something completely different -- put in a threshold board perpendicular to the
foyer boards, and change direction entirely for the boards in the rest of the
room.
It is not difficult to remove some boards to create the stagger if you are
laying the new floor in the same direction as the existing. Get a large
chisel and sink it into the board you want to remove. Then beat it with a
hammer in the direction you want to move the board (the non captive side) .
clean out any debris and fasteners and tap a new longer board in its place.
Be sure to use a cutoff from another board between the new board and hammer
or you'll ruin the tongue/groove on the end.
It's going to be difficult to remove the board at first, but once the
fasteners come loose, it'll usually slide. If the board is being especially
stubborn, or it's captive on both ends, take a circular saw set to depth and
make two parallel cuts on the board you want to remove about 1/2" from
either side. Stop the cuts about 1/4" from each end and and remove that
center piece. Use a chisel to gently remove the rest of the board. To
replace a boadr that is captive on both ends, you'll have to remove the
bottom side of the groove on the end and side to replace it. Good
luck! --dave
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am installing an oak tounge and groove floor in our downstairs den.
> The foyer leading into the den already has oak flooring and we
> purchased the same type. It matches almost exactly and since the
> existing floor is only 4 years old, I would like to tie the floors
> together as cleanly as possible.
>
> What is the most common method of tying floors together. Currently
> there is a oak threshold piece that runs between the carpet and the
> ends of the boards in the foyer. I assume the floor boards have been
> cut off so the groove won't be there on some. I really would like to
> not have the threshold left in but also would like to create a stagger
> on the joints so there isn't a straight line. seperating the two
> rooms.
>
> Any and all suggestions greatly welcomed.
>
> Bill
>
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am installing an oak tounge and groove floor in our downstairs den.
> The foyer leading into the den already has oak flooring and we
> purchased the same type. It matches almost exactly and since the
> existing floor is only 4 years old, I would like to tie the floors
> together as cleanly as possible.
>
> What is the most common method of tying floors together. Currently
> there is a oak threshold piece that runs between the carpet and the
> ends of the boards in the foyer. I assume the floor boards have been
> cut off so the groove won't be there on some. I really would like to
> not have the threshold left in but also would like to create a stagger
> on the joints so there isn't a straight line. seperating the two
> rooms.
>
> Any and all suggestions greatly welcomed.
>
> Bill
>
When I put the floor down in my house, I did the entire lower level.
Because of the fact that the floor went around a series of walls in two
different rooms, when it finally met itself to come back together, I was
told to expect it to not join up perfectly - and it didn't. What I did, was
take two boards and lay them perpendicular to the rest and then let the
tongues in the end boards fit into the groove on the perpendicular board.
This was sort of a threshold concept but it wasn't raised. It also worked
that I made the joint at the opening for the dining room so it helped that
there was a doorway there.
If you're at a similar spot where you're at a doorway, you can do the same
thing. I walk past this spot everyday and never notice the 'break' in the
floor and I even know it's there.
I also considered calling attention to the break by using an inlay piece
available from the hardwood flooring dealer but decided against it.
If you're out in the middle of the room, then I would consider using the
same technique but using a different type of wood and then make a border
around the entire den using this wood. That way, you can still tie it
together but have the added feature of a border that will make it look like
you intended that way.