Alternative Methods of Installing Wide Plank Flooring

Basic Installation

• A typical wide plank floor installation follows much the same procedure as any other hardwood floor installation. The plank flooring is laid on top of a plywood subfloor. When the subfloor is thoroughly cleaned and cleared of any debris, a layer of heavy felt or rosin paper is laid over the subfloor. The first row of planks is laid along a chalk line parallel to the wall and perpendicular to the floor joists, with the tongue side of the planks facing away from the wall. This first row of planks is nailed through the face of the planks on the edge closest to the wall and nailed through the tongue on the other edge. Planks wider than 6 inches may also be glued to the subfloor. Subsequent rows of planks are laid with grooves slipping over the tongue of the previous row, with each row being nailed along the tongue edge.

Varying Widths

• When the planks to be laid are of varying widths, the various widths should be sorted so the planks are installed with a balanced distribution of the widths throughout the room. The widths with the fewest planks should be used less often than the more common widths, to be sure that the less common widths do not run out midway through the installation.

Antique and Rustic Planks

• Some wide plank flooring is made from reclaimed lumber recycled from older buildings and structures, and some new planks are given an intentionally rough finish to emulate the look of authentic antique lumber. When these types of planks are installed, care should be taken when sanding the planks during the finishing process so the rustic finish is not removed from the planks. Some manufacturers recommend using an orbital floor buffer for this step instead of a belt or drum floor sander, to protect the finish of the planks.

Installation Over Concrete

• The primary concern with installing a plank floor over a concrete slab is the inclusion of a vapor barrier to prevent moisture from migrating through the concrete into the wood flooring. This vapor barrier can either be layers of asphalt mastic and asphalt felt paper or a layer of polyethylene film laid over asphalt mastic; a plywood subfloor is then laid over this vapor barrier. Alternatively, a polyethylene vapor barrier may be laid over furring strips of treated lumber embedded in asphalt mastic; in this type of installation, the flooring is attached to the furring strips instead of to a plywood subfloor.