Figure 6-4.—Floor detail for existing concrete construction.
Figure 6-3.—Nailing wood flooring.
recommendations as to size and diameter for
uses. Flooring brads are also available with
points to prevent splitting the tongue.
specific
blunted
Figure 6-2, view B, shows how to nail the first strip
of flooring. This strip should be placed 1/2 to 5/8 inch
away from the wall. The space is to allow for expansion
of the flooring when moisture content increases. The
first nails should be driven straight down, through the
board at the groove edge. The nails should be driven
into the joist and near enough to the edge so that they
will be covered by the base or shoe molding. The first
strip of flooring can also be nailed through the tongue
(fig, 6-3, view A). This figure shows in detail how nails
should be driven into the tongue of the flooring at an
angle of 45° to 50°. Don’t drive the nails flush; this
prevents damaging the edge by the hammerhead
(fig. 6-3 view B). These nails should be set with a nail
set.
To prevent splitting the flooring, predrill through the
tongue, especially at the ends of the strip. For the second
course of flooring from the wall, select pieces so that the
butt joints are well separated from those in the first
course. Under normal conditions, each board should be
driven up tightly against the previous board. Cracked
pieces may require wedging to force them into align-
ment or may be cut and used at the ends of the course
or in closets. In completing the flooring, you should
provide a 1/2- to 5/8-inch space between the wall and
the last flooring strip. This strip should be face-nailed
Figure 6-5.—Base for wood flooring on a slab with vapor barrier.
just like the first strip so that the base or shoe covers the
set nailheads (fig. 6-2, view B).
Installation over Concrete
One of the most critical factors in applying wood
flooring over concrete is the use of a good vapor barrier
under the slab to resist ground moisture. The vapor
barrier should be placed under the slab during
construction. However, an alternate method must be
used when the concrete is already in place (shown in
fig. 6-4).
A system of preparing a base for wood flooring
when there is a vapor barrier under the slab is shown in
figure 6-5. Treated 1-by 4-inch furring strips should be
6-3
