Solid Wood Tongue & Groove Flooring - Gaps Between Boards?

Pricy147

I am about to start laying some solid wood flooring (birch) onto a concrete floor. So far I have left down the foil backed underlay that was previously beneath the laminate, and also laid on top a damp proof lining, and over that - B&Q sticky backed underlay (where you peel back the film, and it glues the boards). So far so good.

The problem I am getting is that the tongue and groove on the boards is very tight, and I am finding that when I mallet the boards together - they come apart elsewhere. I am trying to get the first few rows down - and I guess once these are done - it 'should' be plain sailing. I have two rows joined together (but not glued down), and just cannot get the row nicely joined.

Can anyone offer any advice please?

PS. Also - how do you go around a curved corner (bull nose of my stair case).

PPS. Cannot believe how much harder wood Birch is compared with Bamboo. It took me an age to saw about 5 inches!:D

DVardysShadow

I think you are in for an awful struggle. Normally flooring is laid on to joists and flooring cramps are mounted on the joist to squeeze the boards up while they are nailed. Glue is just not going to hold it all in place.

Oh, and store the timber in the house for 6 months before fitting to minimize shrinkage

Pricy147

the boards have had plenty of time to aclimatise - been stored in my house for about 3 years Only now got around to starting the floor.

Didnt have much of a problem with the Bamboo upstairs - didnt need clamps - guess it depends on the wood and cuts.

Arrgghhh

ormus

http://www.unika.co.uk/page.asp?lang=GB&page=floor_laytools

the tension straps are the best tools to use for the type of floor you have.
you will need at least two, but more likely, four straps.