How to Lay Floating Tongue and Groove Flooring Part 3

Now that you are well on your way to completing your tongue and groove flooring installation, there is just a little bit left to do. You should have several rows of boards in place at this point. Here are the basics of how to finish up your floating tongue and groove flooring installation successfully. (This is Part 3 of a 3 part series. To return to Part 2, click here.)

Step 1--Wiping away Adhesive

When using this method of installation, it is inevitable that you will have some excess glue make its way up to the top of the boards. This is completely normal and is not a problem to worry about. Take a rag and wipe down the boards as you go. As soon as you press the boards together, you will see the adhesive come up through the joints. At that point, take your rag and wipe it off. It is important that you do it as you go so that the adhesive does not dry on the surface of the wood. If you cannot get the adhesive off, you might try using a small number of mineral spirits to take it off.

Step 2--Laying the Last Row

When you get to the last row, it may be a little tricky to get the boards in place because you have limited space to work with. You will most likely need to make vertical cuts on the boards in order for them to fit into place. With your expansion gap, you should have enough room to put the boards down on the floor and slide it into the groove. Keep placing the wedges between the boards and the wall so that your expansion gap remains consistent throughout. When you get to the last board in the row, you may have to make two cuts on the board. Take your time with this cut so that it will be accurate and completely fill the gap.

Step 3--Installing Thresholds

Once the boards are in place, you will need to install thresholds in all of the doorways. Installing a threshold will cover up the raw edge of the tongue and groove flooring. Since you are dealing with a floating floor, you need something to hold the edge of the flooring down. Where the flooring meets tile, hardwood, or laminate, you will need to use a t-molding. Where it meets carpet or an outside door, use an end molding. If it meets vinyl, you can use a reducer molding. Some thresholds will come with a track that you can attach to the floor and then snap the threshold into. You can also use liquid nails to adhere the threshold to the floor.

Step 4--Covering the Expansion Gap

At this point, you will need to cover up the expansion gap around the outside of the room. If you take the baseboards off, you should be able to nail them back onto the wall above the flooring. If you left the baseboards on, you can use quarter round to cover up the gap.