Board Widths
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Transport & Storage
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Acclimatization
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Preparing Your Floor
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Insulation & Soundproofing
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Laying Methods
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Timber Finishes
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Floor Maintenance
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FAQ
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Hints and Tips for Laying Timber Flooring

• Hire a competent trades person – call us for our preferred Suppliers/Contractors. OR if you want to Do It Yourself, ensure that you know exactly what you are doing BEFORE you start the job.
• Do not install the floor until after lock-up stage and all wet trades have been completed.
• Australian standard 1684-1992 states that a 10-12mm gap must be allowed between the floor and bottom plates parallel to the direction of laying where the floor is laid after the walls have been erected.

The Basic Procedure for Laying a T&G Strip Timber Floor

1. Check that the joists, battens or substrate are level, by placing a straight floor board on its edge to see if there are any gaps between them. If there are, cut packing pieces, then plane or chisel it to the right thickness to fill gap, and nail them to the tops of the joists, battens or substrate.

2. Timber Flooring Packs come in varying lengths so lay them out on the floor to minimise cutting. Select the first boards. Remember to allow a 10 – 12mm gap between the wall and the first board – you may like to consider inserting a cork strip to reduce friction. If cutting is required, ensure the ends are cut squarely and any boards that butt join against each other always do so in the centre of a joist. Or if this isn't possible, end match the timber by routing a tongue and matching groove into the abutting boards.

3. Remember to stagger the joins so that there are five or more boards between joins on the same joist.

4. Start laying by positioning the first Timber Flooring board to fit against the wall. Mark with pencil where it goes around any obstacles and cut it to fit. Remember, measure twice, cut once. Fix this first board with a slight curve in the centre to compensate for any hollowing of the boards as you cramp them.

5. Progressively check that the Timber Flooring board edges are positioned to a straight line parallel to the wall you are moving towards.

6. After nailing the first length, lay the next three or four in position and cramp them tightly together. Hire floor cramps to make this job much easier.

7. Nail a temporary timber piece to the joists and tap the wedges together between the boards and the fixed timber piece When using cramps, place a solid piece of timber (such as 100 x 38mm) between the cramp and the Timber Flooring board. This protects the edge of the floor and gives even cramp pressure.

8. Next nail the Timber Flooring boards to the joists. With most Timber Flooring you have the choice of either the secret nail system or the top nail. After nailing, remove the clamps. Continue cramping and nailing further groups of boards, always ensuring that the two boards butting together meet in the centre of the joists, until the floor is almost completed.

9. At the end wall, you’ll probably be left with a narrow gap. Remember to allow at least 10-12mm for floor movement and room to insert the cork stripping. To cut the final Timber Flooring board to fit, plane the tongue off the last Timber Flooring floorboard. Wedge one of the boards tightly against the last nailed board. Then place the other board on top of it, butted hard against the wall lining or frame Using the top board as a straight edge, pencil a line on the length of the bottom one. Cut the bottom board along the pencil line, then lay the whole board next to the wall. Press them both flat into position and nail down. Finally, if using the top nail system punch all the nail heads below the surface.