Laying 150mm Baltic Pine Floor - Advice needed Please

[Make it work]

I am about to lay a new 150mm Baltic Pine floor in a new bedroom, about 3.6mtr square.

We chose baltic because it matches the existing floor in the front part of the house but there is a small gap of up to 2mm in the old boards which we like the look of.

Question 1, is the gap in the old boards due to shrinkage or would it have been laid that way?

Maybe, I should lay the new boards with a 1 or 1.5mm gap and not worry that I won't be here in 50 years to see huge gaps if they should shrink.

Question 2, Should I use any sort if adhesive between the board and the joist? I asked the guy at the hardware and he said to use Liquid Nails Floors & Decks at $14.85 and that 5 tubes should do it, WOW, that is EXPENSIVE stuff...

If adhesive is required to stop squeaks and creaks, would polyurethane do the job?

Any advice or suggestion is appreciated.

Thanks

[glock40sw]

The gap is caused by shrinkage.

If you like the gapped look, (I don't) You can lay the new floor with 2mm gaps. just use 2mm whipper snipper line laid on top of the tongues of the boards befor cramping and nailing. Then pull the cord out and use for the next set of boards.

Use a flooring adhesive.(Bostik Ultraset, Sika T55j, Selley's direct stick)
Not a construction adhesive.

[UteMad]

I secoond not liking the gap... If the boards shrink further your gaps will be unsightly and collect unwanted dirt

I second the bostik ultraset

cheers utemad

[Dusty]

To gap or not to gap? That is the question.

Some men adore small breasted women. Some go off on large breasted chicks, so, I guess it's all about personal choice. Same goes with the floor boards gaps, some like 'em, but most hate them.

I'd be more concerned about mixing new Baltic with the old Baltic. Do the two floors butt up to each other? Or, at the very least, are they visible to each other? New Baltic looks nothing like old Baltic, as it takes years for the new timber to darken up the way old Baltic looks. And, seeing as you love the look of the existing Baltic (gaps and all) I'm guessing you would be pretty damn disappointed with the look of new Baltic, as it is almost white in colour, with the exception of a few yellowy bits where the knots are.

Your best bet might be to go with second hand Baltic in around about the same colour tonings that you have already.

Here are some pics of both old and new.

[Make it work]

Thanks for the replies, I won't make the gaps too big just in case they shrink over time, say 1 to 1.5mm.

The old and new do not butt up, infact they are seperated by a large rumpus/family room which will be done in a vinyl over yellow tongue, infact the new boards will run perpendicular to the old, to see both at once you need to stand in a particular spot against a wall and look in two directions at once, through two door ways.

As for the new looking very white, I had to replace the surround of both my fireplaces when I re-did the hearth tiles, so I got a small can of old baltic stain and made it match fairly well. I already have the new boards but I don't know if staining 100 lineal metres @ 150 wide is a good idea.

Any thoughts?