Oak boards - how easy to install and any snags? Tips welcome.

quatro

I hope to be refurbishing a property soon and would like oak boards. They would go on top of a boarded wood framed floor.
What preparation would be needed? Would it be better to take the skirting boards off for a neater finish at the edges? Anything needed to be placed between the floor and the board - and what is the best way to fix : glue and nail or just secret nail?

Any experiences and advice would be appreciated, thanks. [Haven't worked with this material before]

quatro

Surely someone has put down oak solid wood flooring? It's very popular and becoming more affordable ........

littlereddevil

I had m ine professionally laid. They were 5in wide boards and there was nothing put down between the floor and the boards. They did take off the skirting boards but did not put the boards tight to the wall in case of movement left a very small gap. There was no glue used only invisible nails which they put in at the side of the boards. They were flat things with ridges. Sorry i can't be of more help but they sure look good and I have had no problems nearly 4 years on

quatro

Thanks for that info littlereddevil - that was the way i was thinking of doing it but wondering if there were any details i should know about. I would like to be 110% informed before I embark upon such an important job.

unsure

We had solid-oak laminate boards profesionally fitted becuase the room had some awkward corners and it worked out v. well. They were the click-fit type of laminate (4mm solid oak over three ply backing) so no glueing or nailing needed. Three years on they still look fab and haven't shifted at all.
We settled on the laminate because our builder told us he was no longer prepared to fit solid hardwood boards because so many now are not properly seasoned but are quickly kiln-dried instead. He said this made them much more prone to expansion/contraction once in a new environment depending on heating, moisture etc. He said he was fed up going back to repair shifting solid boards six months after he'd laid them...and he started off as a boat builder so he ought to know timber.
I guess a lot depends on the supplier you use and the price you are prepared to pay.

quatro

unsure - Im wondering if this is the way for me to go - as I am also concerned about the way the oak is dried out and the varying temperatures inside a home.
I used to work for a musical instrument maker and he was very conscientious in the way he dried his timber [it took 2 years to do it properly] as if he dried it too quickly he would be out of business should there be future problems. His products went worldwide and he explained that the atmospheres in different countries had to be taken into consideration.

Laminate would be easier to take up if there were problems under the floor eg. central heating pipes and I would be more confident to lay it myself and save some labour costs.

Getafix

I'm with 'unsure' on this one.
I'd favour Engineered wood over solid wood purely for the expansion problems.
Engineered wood is also faster to lay and you can use sound unsulating underlay to lessen vibrations.

If the resanding potential of solid wood flooring is swaying you in that direction take a look at this:

http://www.floorings.com/faqs/Wood/refinishing.shtml