Flooring Installation: Tongue-and-Groove Plank Flooring

Install the planks. Tongue-and-groove planks are in stalled the same way as tongue-and-groove strips, by face-nailing the starter boards and blind-nailing the field courses. With plank floors, however, the material may come in random widths, and you'll need to pay close attention to the pattern they will make, Inventory the stock before installation to see how many boards (or how much total length) you have for each width, Then plan your installation so that the boards make an attractive pattern and so you'll be able to finish the floor with the same pattern you start with. You don't want to use up a particular width of board too soon.

Install the plugs. Some manufactured products include wooden plugs at the ends of each board to simulate the pegged floors of bygone days. Install this flooring as you would other plank flooring, but first decide what plug pattern you want to establish. Keep these points in mind. Since you must cut boards to fit each time you end a course, these boards will have no plug holes at one end, II you use the cut-off piece to start a new course, it too, will have no plug holes at one end. You can counter bore the screw holes and plug them to maintain the pattern of plugs. If you use a new board to begin each course, you'll have a continuous row of plugs along the left wall which you'll want to duplicate along the right wall so that the edges match, To reduce the number of plugs across the floor's edge, you can cut one end off the beginning board and use the cut-off piece at the end of the course. Where you reduce the screw positions, plan to blind-nail the plank securely to the subfloor surface below.

Measure and mark the position for the plugs at the end of each board. A 3½” board usually gets one plug, a 6-inch board two, and an 8-inch board three.

For wide planking, pay particular attention to the nailing schedule, as wider planks need the additional fastening. Drill pilot holes at all the marks for screws, and counterbore them for the size plug you are using. (If you want the plugs to be made of another wood not available at your supplier, you can cut your own with a plug-cutting bit.) Screw down the flooring using No. 9 wood screws. Then glue and tap a plug into each hole. Chisel each plug off to nearly flush with the floor surface; they will be brought fully flush when the floor is sanded for finishing. Install thresholds, base boards, and other trim, and sand and finish the floor.

Tongue-and-Groove Plank Floors: Drill extra screw holes as needed

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