Wide Plank Flooring – Cupped Boards

Cupped boards are common problems after installation often due to moisture damage or flooring that was not dried sufficiently to start with.

1_cupped-wide-plank-flooring

The 5″ piece of Beech Flooring is what a cupped board looks like before planing. Much of the imported pre-finished wide plank flooring has moisture issues. Better to rent a moisture meter and check the ends of the boards for moisture content before putting material down from another part of the world. If it is more than 8% consider returning it for a refund. We have seen pre-finished flooring measure at or above 12%.

I was skeptical when Merv told me that I could put down 1×8 boards without surface nailing or screwing–however it is true. When flooring is dried properly it lasts beautifully.

Applying Varathane to Unfinished Hardwood

Next comes the Varathane.

Spend the Money… Cheap varathane will not last. Buy the professional quality varathane for a durable finish.

1_verathane-application-plank-flooring

We are using a paint tray with a liner, a broom handle and a wool varathane application head. Rule #1, Apply the varathane in even coats with the grain of the wood. #2 Maintain a wet edge. #3 don’t paint yourself into a corner!

1_applying-verathane-hardwood

Slow smooth motion will avoid air pockets within the finish.

1_application-verathane-wide-plank-flooring

Don’t apply too much at a time or you will have puddles. Give it 3 or 4 good even coats for a durable finish. Again, I can’t stress this point enough. $30.00 varathane will not last as well as $100.00 varathane. The better materials are nearly often worth the extra money!

Applying Stain to Unfinished Hardwood

Applying Stain– Old School

Here’s an exhausting hobby! Rule #1, get knee pads. The trick to this is to keep your wet edge to prevent color discrepancies. In just the few moments it took to focus and snap some photos I could see dark spots. Keep in mind though–once the varathane goes on you won’t see very much color variation. 1_stain-application-beech-flooring

We actually had this color custom tinted by our paint store. It was a combination of 3 different colours in an effort to closely match a pine floor adjacent.

applying-stain-wood-floors

 Yes sir, Rubber Gloves, A Rag and Stain. You can use a mop head or wool pad with a broom handle to apply stain, however it will be more streaky and just not as deep and rich typically. You get residue resting on the grains unless it is hand rubbed.
applying-stain-with-rag
 It is a simple task really… apply with a rag… rub excess off with clean rag. Don’t take breaks.
Some people will tell you to use a wood conditioner, and if you are considering you may want to do samples to determine which look you like the best.

Sanding Unfinished Hardwood Flooring Part 1

When it comes to finishing Hardwood you may want to leave this to the pros.

It is not an easy task. You can rent the equipment to do the job, however a drum sander. (photo below–is not a pleasant tool to use).
 1_sanding_with-drum-sander
A drum sander is simply a spinning cylinder with sand paper on it, and what makes it tricky is that the drum is mounted on a slight angle. The first pass is diagonal from right to left until the floor is more or less even. You start working from right to left parallel to the floor….and work your way around the room in a clockwise pattern. The tricky bit is in the middle. You never want to start and stop in the same place or you could dig yourself a trench .

rental-drum-sander

These are sheets of sandpaper that fit the drum sander–each machine is different so buy your paper where you rent or buy the machine. On harder species of wood we will start out using 18 grit, then 24, then 40, then 60 or 80.

1_drum-sander-paper-edger

The machine blow is called an edger. This has a spinning disc and casters or wheels at the back. It tilts forward and is used for sanding close to corners and walls. IN the same way you use coarse paper and work down to smoother finish as you work.
sandind-corners-hardwood-floors
These are the discs used in the edger. Edgers will usually have a light that casts down on the work surface… this one was broken!
1_edger-paper-40grit-100grit

Installing Unfinished Hardwood Flooring Part 3

Here are a few pro tips for actually installing the flooring.

Pulling the boards into place is not easy–so often we drive a chisel into the subfloor and use it to ratchet the boards tight for nailing. It always works better with 2 workmen.

1_using-hardwood-stapler-2-workers (1)

Thresholds and in particular nosed thresholds at the top of stairs should look like the existing stair treads. You can rip a piece, glue, nail and screw to emulate the same look in most cases. Hide your screws where you can.

1_stair-nose-tread-making

Casings and jamb extensions will often need trimming so that the flooring slips under and doesn’t leave an unsightly gap. We use a flush cut backsaw (a saw that cuts on the pull stroke–Japanese steel preferred), and rest it on a piece of the actual flooring for a guide.

trimming-jamb-extensions-for-flooring