Tongue and Groove Floating Floors

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While the choice in building products is expanding exponentially in the marketplace, they are also becoming more user friendly, as is the case with flooring materials. Recognizing the marketing opportunities they have with the rising numbers of do-it-yourself homeowners, flooring manufacturers are beginning to come out with flooring options that are easily mastered by the average homeowner.

Of course, there is a learning curve, but installing floating floors can be something that a handy homeowner can accomplish with a bit of effort in very little time.

One of the previously most popular flooring styles for hardwood flooring was the tongue and groove. It’s still very popular today, but with the advancement of new and different wood flooring styles, it’s being matched by other products as well.

The first step with any floating floor is to lay a cushioned underlayment. Your floating floor will rest upon this layer without actually being adhered to it.

Because wood flooring strips come in uniform lengths, laying out your tongue and groove planks ahead of gluing them together is a very important step. Yes, it will practically double your installation time, but it is essential for ensuring your seams are at varied intervals and look attractive. Otherwise you’ll end up with a floor that can look unsightly -- especially if you have too many seams lining up in one spot.

The key is to work back and forth across the floor and when you get to the other side, cut the wood, and put the remainder of the piece next to it and work your way back. This should help keep the seams at random intervals. If you wind up needing to cut the plank exactly (or close to it) in half, then lay the second half on the opposite side of the room.

Different methods can be applied, but the goal is the same, plan it all out while you still have time to change it around if you’re not pleased with the outcome. A word to the wise: while you’re working on the layout, be sure to lay the pieces so that the tongues of one row face the grooves of the next.

When the flooring has the appearance you want, it’s time to start gluing. You’ll need to pull the planks up, but keep them in order so you’ll remember how they go. Lay down the first row. Next lay a bead of wood flooring glue down the groove of the pieces of the following row and lay it next to your first row. You’ll need to place a tapping block on the outside of the second row of flooring and hammer against it to secure the planks together. What you are trying to accomplish here is successfully lodging the tongue of one plank into the groove of the next.

Slide the tapping block every few inches and hammer it a few times -- this will help you get the tongues and grooves to meld together evenly.

Solid Hardwood / Tongue and Groove / Click / Cork Floating Floors