Prefinished hardwood expansion gaps at end?

26yrsinflooring · 11-18-2008, 10:36 AM

Keep your boards running with the longest length of the room.
So if your hallway runs into you livingroom run it down the hall. Start on your hallway wall if you are going into the rooms.The hall will be the most visble point, if it is off, it will all go off.
Use T-Molding around the tile areas,

This is my Wis-dumb.

Engus · 11-18-2008, 07:50 PM

I'm not in the flooring business, but I don't know about rosin paper being a 'joke'.
I've used rosin paper under every floor in my home and in my Father's home, with no squeaks whatsoever.
By contrast, I have a close friend who didn't bother to put down rosin paper under the job we did at his home, and depending upon
the seasons, his flooring will squeak.
Tar paper would be much more difficult to keep everything clean for someone who may not have the expertise or the tools that a tradesman might have on hand, though.
Anyrate, as I said early on, I'm only sharing how 'I' would handle the job. Not offering professional advice by any means.

26yrsinflooring · 11-18-2008, 08:21 PM

The rosin paper had nothing to do with floor squeaks, I think it is a gimmick. Most of the time the rosin paper was used to over lay the new wood so it would not get scratched up after the install was done with tarpaper.

That being said here are the benifits of tarpaper:
Moisture control, dust control, squeak control. The tarpaper will keep the floor acclimated to the level it is on. You can double it up if you find a low spot. It is a win>win application.
I will not install a solid hardwood without it, many times I use is as leveler under other wood floors.

orange · 02-26-2009, 08:55 AM

This is just an update to close off my portion of this thread.
The project has been completed - pictures attached.

Thanks to all who provided advice and encouragement.

drtbk4ever · 02-26-2009, 11:34 AM

Hey Orange,

Thanks for posting photos of your completed project. Too few people post their results.

It looks great.

orange · 02-26-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drtbk4ever

Hey Orange,

Thanks for posting photos of your completed project. Too few people post their results.

It looks great.

Thanks. We are very happy with the results.

I agree that too often there are no follow up pictures.

26yrsinflooring · 02-26-2009, 07:35 PM

You did a real nice job.

smidz · 04-28-2009, 10:39 AM

The floor looks good, just wondering if the boards along the Railing are tight or did you leave a gap and caulk it?

orange · 04-29-2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smidz

The floor looks good, just wondering if the boards along the Railing are tight or did you leave a gap and caulk it?

Thanks for the comment. Boards along the railing have a small gap. I left 1/2 to 3/4 " gap around the perimeter everywhere else and finished with quarter round.

smidz · 04-29-2009, 11:34 AM

cool, did you find a color match caulk for the small gap to the railing, or just left it?

orange · 04-29-2009, 11:41 AM

I just left it, but I'm sure a little caulk could be used. I really haven't investigated any flexible "oak-colored" caulk, but I'm sure it exists.

In my case we'd be talking 1/16 to 1/8" by 5 ft.

Orange

11-18-2008, 10:36 AM	#16
26yrsinflooring Get out of the box! Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 333	Prefinished hardwood expansion gaps at end? Keep your boards running with the longest length of the room. So if your hallway runs into you livingroom run it down the hall. Start on your hallway wall if you are going into the rooms.The hall will be the most visble point, if it is off, it will all go off. Use T-Molding around the tile areas, This is my Wis-dumb.

11-18-2008, 07:50 PM	#17
Engus Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13	Prefinished hardwood expansion gaps at end? I'm not in the flooring business, but I don't know about rosin paper being a 'joke'. I've used rosin paper under every floor in my home and in my Father's home, with no squeaks whatsoever. By contrast, I have a close friend who didn't bother to put down rosin paper under the job we did at his home, and depending upon the seasons, his flooring will squeak. Tar paper would be much more difficult to keep everything clean for someone who may not have the expertise or the tools that a tradesman might have on hand, though. Anyrate, as I said early on, I'm only sharing how 'I' would handle the job. Not offering professional advice by any means.

11-18-2008, 08:21 PM	#18
26yrsinflooring Get out of the box! Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 333	Prefinished hardwood expansion gaps at end? The rosin paper had nothing to do with floor squeaks, I think it is a gimmick. Most of the time the rosin paper was used to over lay the new wood so it would not get scratched up after the install was done with tarpaper. That being said here are the benifits of tarpaper: Moisture control, dust control, squeak control. The tarpaper will keep the floor acclimated to the level it is on. You can double it up if you find a low spot. It is a win>win application. I will not install a solid hardwood without it, many times I use is as leveler under other wood floors.

02-26-2009, 08:55 AM	#19
orange Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ottawa Ontario Canada Posts: 168	Prefinished hardwood expansion gaps at end? This is just an update to close off my portion of this thread. The project has been completed - pictures attached. Thanks to all who provided advice and encouragement. Attached Images

02-26-2009, 11:34 AM	#20
drtbk4ever Newbie Bill Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,033	Prefinished hardwood expansion gaps at end? Hey Orange, Thanks for posting photos of your completed project. Too few people post their results. It looks great.

Prefinished hardwood expansion gaps at end?