Maple HW floor assistance please - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

sorethumbs · 05-01-2009, 11:03 AM

I hope this post is ok. I read the Forum Rules and I think it is, but if not please let me know and I'll delete. I'll be installing a HW maple floor in a cabin. The cabin has a tiled hearth pad and the design calls for a walnut strip to surround the tile. I attached a drawing of the layout.

I have done very little flooring, and what I've done has been pretty simple, basic, rectangular rooms. Nothing like this. How should I approach this to get everything lined-up. How would you handle the walnut-maple transiton? What type of jointery? My biggest concern is that I'll start laying along the north wall, working south, and when I get to the outter margin of the walnut I'll either be short or proud.

Please advise - Thanks!

**ChrWright** · 05-01-2009, 11:31 AM

What material are you using?

3/4" T&G? Engineered? What plank width?

Plank direction is going to be east to west?

Prefinished or sand in place?

sorethumbs · 05-01-2009, 11:41 AM

Sorry, I didn't realize I left so many details out. This is 3/4" T&G solid hardwood, unfinished. The boards will be layed East-West. The plan now is to lay the first board parallel to the North wall and work south.

Plank width of the walnut is 5" approx., and the maple 3.25" approx.

jimmys · 05-01-2009, 11:48 AM

I'd lay the first maple strip E-W, groove against the walnut border, tongue south, and lay south from there. Then tuck a ripping in the back-to-back grooves, and lay tongue-north from the first maple you laid until you get to the wall. Just make sure the first maple strip doesn't get pushed by the subsequent strips. Back it up with a temporary scab screwed to the subfloor.
Jim

sorethumbs · 05-01-2009, 01:07 PM

Holy crap is that a good idea, thanks Jim!!! Do you rip your own spline from a floor-board or get it from your flooring supplier? The scab is a great idea too. I suppose I could face nail (and fill) that board too. How would you handle the maple - walnut joinery where the maple end grain a-buts the walnut? If I used a T&G joint I guess I'd have too machine a grove in the maple end on the 45*'s, it that how you'd approach it? I could use the router with a slot cutter in router table.

shanekw1 · 05-01-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmys

I'd lay the first maple strip E-W, groove against the walnut border, tongue south, and lay south from there. Then tuck a ripping in the back-to-back grooves, and lay tongue-north from the first maple you laid until you get to the wall. Just make sure the first maple strip doesn't get pushed by the subsequent strips. Back it up with a temporary scab screwed to the subfloor.
Jim

Ditto.

Just make sure the scab is attached well to the floor, screw it to the joists, you don't want it moving at all.

Bentz34 · 05-01-2009, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sorethumbs

Holy crap is that a good idea, thanks Jim!!! Do you rip your own spline from a floor-board or get it from your flooring supplier? The scab is a great idea too. I suppose I could face nail (and fill) that board too. How would you handle the maple - walnut joinery where the maple end grain a-buts the walnut? If I used a T&G joint I guess I'd have too machine a grove in the maple end on the 45*'s, it that how you'd approach it? I could use the router with a slot cutter in router table.

lay your walnut with the tongue out. On the southern most part of the mantel put the maple groove in the walnut and lay a row of maple from east to west across the entire floor. Snap a line to make sure you are square and then take some 2x4 to make sure when you nail that strip it stays in place. Take off the 2x4 and put a spline in the grove of your maple and start working north. When you get to the tongue of the walnut I would take a router to make a grove on the end of your maple so it fits in the tongue of your walnut.

sorethumbs · 06-10-2009, 12:29 PM

I wanted to say thanks to the guys that offered advice on this project. It turned out great.

Mike Costello · 06-10-2009, 02:13 PM

Looks great!