Hard wood flooring

[artie]

Anyone ever put in hardwood flooring that was not tongue and groove. I was thinking that with glues like pl 400 that you should not have to toenail through the tongue. After looking at prices of hardwood either finished our unfinished and engineered flooring that my budget cannot handle the cost. I also do not want to put in plastic flooring. I saw on the net that some nail through the hardwood and then countersink the nail and fill the hole with sawdust and glue. I wonder how that looks once it is sanded and waxed.

[Spidey]

I think if you're ok with a bit more of a "rustic" look, then you may be on to something. Wood flooring possibilities have really opened up in the past few years. I've even seen sanded and waxed/polished OSB floors that looked really good. One thing you would risk is potential gaps between pieces of flooring if the wood loses moisture or the house isn't kept at a consistent level of humidity. I think 30% humidity is optimal for hardwood floors.

Edit: if you can source older, reclaimed wood (eg. grain elevator, barn, etc.) then even better. Less of a chance of the wood shrinking.

[Newview01]

Originally Posted by artie

Anyone ever put in hardwood flooring that was not tongue and groove. I was thinking that with glues like pl 400 that you should not have to toenail through the tongue. After looking at prices of hardwood either finished our unfinished and engineered flooring that my budget cannot handle the cost. I also do not want to put in plastic flooring. I saw on the net that some nail through the hardwood and then countersink the nail and fill the hole with sawdust and glue. I wonder how that looks once it is sanded and waxed.

What you have described is far too labour intensive to make it worth it, and will likely fail over time. Hardwood naturally expands and shrinks with the environment it is in, and tongue and groove will eliminate height differences that may occur becuase of that. Your best bet is to watch for sales at Lowes or Rona. I may have some cheap vinyl plank for you if you are interested. How many sq ft?

[bsmitty27]

Pine floors ship lapped. Glued and screwed or glued and nailed with decortave square nails. Looks awesome. With time it gets a beautiful patina of a old farm house floor. The first couple dings hurt though.

Don't fill nail holes. It always looks like ****. Even with glue and sawdust it ages at a different rate.
Brad

[artie]

Originally Posted by Newview01

What you have described is far too labour intensive to make it worth it, and will likely fail over time. Hardwood naturally expands and shrinks with the environment it is in, and tongue and groove will eliminate height differences that may occur becuase of that. Your best bet is to watch for sales at Lowes or Rona. I may have some cheap vinyl plank for you if you are interested. How many sq ft?

Thanks for the info but I do not want to go with vinyl. Just my own personal thoughts is that we are getting too much vinyl and plastic in houses. There has to be some reason why a lot of people I know myself included have some form of cancer. With what my little sister just went through with breast cancer I think we should be looking more at causes of cancer and then we can forget the radiation and chemo.

[Newview01]

Originally Posted by artie

Thanks for the info but I do not want to go with vinyl. Just my own personal thoughts is that we are getting too much vinyl and plastic in houses. There has to be some reason why a lot of people I know myself included have some form of cancer. With what my little sister just went through with breast cancer I think we should be looking more at causes of cancer and then we can forget the radiation and chemo.

I don't disagree, many products in our homes produce harmful gasses over time.

Most if not all vinyl flooring sold nowadays is certified to off-gass negligible amounts, the rules especially for commercial applications are very strict.

If you want a natural floor, linoleum is 100% natural, and still very popular for commercial applications. They also make linoleum planks.

Keep in mind that hardwood is only as natural as the finish that is used on it.

[hilt134]

If your going for wood and are going either the reclaimed route or just having budget problems to make the floor go smoother or last longer they say that you should let it age in the house so when you instal it there wont be as much warping. You definetly can do it with out tounge and groove but the fit may not be as tight.

[roughneckin]

Can't see where your from Artie but Timbertown has some really good deals on some of their hardwood. Was just there the other day. Saw some for around $3-5/sqft.

[artie]

Originally Posted by roughneckin

Can't see where your from Artie but Timbertown has some really good deals on some of their hardwood. Was just there the other day. Saw some for around $3-5/sqft.

thanks I will go over there

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by artie

Thanks for the info but I do not want to go with vinyl. Just my own personal thoughts is that we are getting too much vinyl and plastic in houses. There has to be some reason why a lot of people I know myself included have some form of cancer. With what my little sister just went through with breast cancer I think we should be looking more at causes of cancer and then we can forget the radiation and chemo.

The harder a material is the less it off gasses. Noeprene rubber being a good example, horrible stuff. Beds with a lot of foam in them are bad as well. Hardwood with a good non Chinese hard finish is good. As well you might like a hardwood look ceramic tile?

[Newview01]

Does anyone know if linseed oil is a decent finish for a wood floor? It is all natural, and naturally resists bacteria.

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by bsmitty27

Pine floors ship lapped. Glued and screwed or glued and nailed with decortave square nails. Looks awesome. With time it gets a beautiful patina of a old farm house floor. The first couple dings hurt though.

Don't fill nail holes. It always looks like ****. Even with glue and sawdust it ages at a different rate.
Brad

That's what we have here, just get the better boards like Gormann. Holes filled and sanded, followed by Varathane. Looks very Western. Cabin has OSB done the same way. Awesome.

Grizz

[Bigwoodsman]

Depending where you are and how much you need check out the recycle stores. MIL found enough laminate to do the basement in her condo. About 660 square feet for 80.00 12mm. I installed it on a Saturday for a nice roast beef dinner with all the fixin's

BW

[eagleflyfisher]

Originally Posted by Newview01

Does anyone know if linseed oil is a decent finish for a wood floor? It is all natural, and naturally resists bacteria.

I'll pine in here,
Oiled floors are ok, they become a maintance routine over time, you need to keep reapplying & eventually you will get a build that could work for you. All our finishes are maintance free, no waxing etc. Dust & vacume and a mild mop with a floor cleaner and your done. 3 coats of finish is my industry standard.
A square edge floor with no t & g is not so good. Guaranteed you will have some cracks & will save nothing by the time you lay in a bed of adhesive & you should top screw & plug to give some structural integrity.
If you want cheap I'm sure I could dig up a thousand feet of mix & match solid , ash oak maple birch cherry walnut hickory etc out of my barn. Just a little overdo with a purge in that department.
If you have any questions fire away, I have done nothing but install sand & finish last 27yrs.

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by eagleflyfisher

I'll pine in here,
Oiled floors are ok, they become a maintance routine over time, you need to keep reapplying & eventually you will get a build that could work for you. All our finishes are maintance free, no waxing etc. Dust & vacume and a mild mop with a floor cleaner and your done. 3 coats of finish is my industry standard.
A square edge floor with no t & g is not so good. Guaranteed you will have some cracks & will save nothing by the time you lay in a bed of adhesive & you should top screw & plug to give some structural integrity.
If you want cheap I'm sure I could dig up a thousand feet of mix & match solid , ash oak maple birch cherry walnut hickory etc out of my barn. Just a little overdo with a purge in that department.
If you have any questions fire away, I have done nothing but install sand & finish last 27yrs.

What finish do you favor?

[eagleflyfisher]

Originally Posted by pikergolf

What finish do you favor?

Number 1 in my books is waterborne Bona Traffic.

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by eagleflyfisher

Number 1 in my books is waterborne Bona Traffic.

Thanks