Hardwood Floor Installation

DIYSteve

I plan to install 3/4" solid hardwood flooring over a Raupanel system.



In tubing layouts I have seen online and also in the one I have done myself there is a section of the tubing that ends up being parallel to the flooring.



How do you deal with nailing down a floor plank if the plank nail area happens to align with a parallel tubing runs? Do you simply surface nail it? Or do you not nail in that plank?



FWIW I plan to install 2 1/4 Red Oak.



While I am on hardwood flooring, how important is it to use quarter-sawn wood?



Thanks. DIYGuy

Gordy

Hardwood

Probably surface nail, and glue that particular strip. 2 1/4" flooring is good, wider planks will be more prone to shrinkage, and cupping.



Always make sure that the flooring is acclimated to the space installed. Quarter Sawn is best makes the most stable planks.



Always make sure floor temps are sub 85*. I see most hardwood distributors anymore only recommend engineered, or laminate floors over radiant. I say its hog wash.



Gordy

Jack

qtr sawn

I don't get to do my woodworking side here very often. to qualify my skill level, I specialize in the production of chips, sawdust and kindlin, but I continue to work at it. The qtr sawn is more stable and will resist cupping much better. The structure of the flat sawn just doesn't resist the natural wood tendency to cup/curl. Qtr sawn does. I think the Raupanel an excellent system and am contemplating it for my home re-model. I used Wirsbo's Quik-Trac on the last house with good results, but today, I'd go Rau. Back to the wood, I would only run the strips perpendicular to the plates. I'm sure you can do it parallel, but it will not be as strong and you would, I think, end up with greater temp difference in the actual floor material, due to the proximity of the tubing to each individual flooring strip going parallel. Play to your materials strengths and you will not be disappointed...or you will be less likely to be disappointed. Qtr sawn cost a boat load more, but the looks are tremendous.



I'm helping a friend mill up a lot of qtr sawn Elm for his floors. He has a band saw mill and it is spectacular in appearance. As to the Oaks, I'd say White Oak is the prettier wood, especially in qtr sawn. Traditionally, it is the preferred flooring material in the Oaks.