Laying the flooring

[Shedhand]

G'day all. Began laying the Tas Oak T&G 85 x 19 mm overlay floor today.
The first board was tricky getting it nice and straight. I ran a chalk line the length of the room (8.5 metres) and glued nailed the first run down. then waited 30 mins for the glue to 'go off' a bit then started the next run.
Secret nailing using a Bostich floor stapler. Air type you belt with a special hammer. Brilliant. I'm also using Sikaflex T55 flooring adhesive, spread on with a notched trowel. I've stopped for a drink and I've done 4 runs of 8.5 metres. Now i've got the hang of it i reckon i'll finish laying it tomorrow afternoon. 46 runs to go. 391 lineal metres.
Cheers

[Bleedin Thumb]

Hi Shedhand,
This is exactly what I want to do in my own place so let us know of any pitfalls/ wins you have along the way.
Why did you go 19mm?
Good luck & show us some pics.

[Shedhand]

19mm = more wear, less movement, better insulation (19mm Tas oak + 19mm Trudek + 12mm subfloor polystyrene wafers = R2.5), better sound insulation. Anyway that's the conclusions I came to after a fair bit of advice and reading etc.
The hardest part is spreading the adhesive. Doesn't go too well with arthritis in the knees and hands. Other than that no pitfalls as yet.
Cheers

[Larry McCully]

knee pads are good.

[Dusty]

knee pads are good.

Hiring someone elses knees is even better.

[Shedhand]

knee pads are good.

got 'em but the bony lumps still hurt when i kneel....

[Shedhand]

Hiring someone elses knees is even better.

had a crew lined up but ran out of money unfortunately.

[Shedhand]

More pics of floor and gear.
The stapler is the ducks guts. The GMC compressor cost me 165 bucks and will be handy in the shed when its done the job. plenty of grunt for the stapler.
Cheers

[Bleedin Thumb]

Shedhand havent heard from you today, I'd say you may be a bit weary after today effort,how are the knees holding up?
Hows the progress?
I notice that you put the glue on the floor rather than the board any reason? the instructions I've got say on the board but I can imagine your way is easier and less messy.
cheers

[Shedhand]

Shedhand havent heard from you today, I'd say you may be a bit weary after today effort,how are the knees holding up?
Hows the progress?
I notice that you put the glue on the floor rather than the board any reason? the instructions I've got say on the board but I can imagine your way is easier and less messy.
cheers

Knackered mate. Was a bit optomistic about finishing today. Knocked off at 8pm (I think I heard a rifle being loaded over the back fence :eek: ) after I used all the glue I spread. I spread enough to do 3 runs of 8.5 metres at a time. The Sikaflex T55 is very runny and is meant to form a flexible bed as a full surface adhesion. It'd have to be less messy than applying glue to each board and then having to handle a sticky mess. I'm officially just over half way now. Knees will never be the same..
More pics.. Will definitely finish tomorrow.
Cheers

[Local Handyman]

Yea i know what you mean by the knees! I used to have the same problem . then i discoved Glucosamine tabs and now it's easier to stand up and walk straighter too!! (might also have something to do with giving up drinking, NOT) The floor looks great and i've wondered about those bostich floor staplers. Keep going Shedhand.

[Shedhand]

Yea i know what you mean by the knees! I used to have the same problem . then i discoved Glucosamine tabs and now it's easier to stand up and walk straighter too!! (might also have something to do with giving up drinking, NOT) The floor looks great and i've wondered about those bostich floor staplers. Keep going Shedhand.

Thanks for the encouragement Handy. I've been on Glucosimine for over 2 years (2000mg / day - I bought a big supply. I have two mates who are pharmacists. Both say I've wasted my money. I asked why they sell the stuff and they said its because customers want to buy it????
They reckon exercise (walking) and healthy food is the best thing.
I'm actually enjoying the flooring. The stapler is just brilliant. When you whack it with the hammer there is a slight delay before the staple shoots into the tongue which allows any small gap the boards have between them to be closed.
Cheers

[Bleedin Thumb]

Shedhand have you finished that floor yet?
I want to know how you got those last boards in?

Its usually about day 3 when the pain sets in, hows the back & knees.

Imagine what it would be like to be a carpet layer kicking those spreader things with your knee all day

[Shedhand]

Shedhand have you finished that floor yet?
I want to know how you got those last boards in?

Its usually about day 3 when the pain sets in, hows the back & knees.

Imagine what it would be like to be a carpet layer kicking those spreader things with your knee all day

I'm convinced that anyone who works in the flooring industry laying anything is a mutant. I'm 8 metres from death. everythings killing me.
As for the last three runs...had to hand skew nail 2 runs then top nailed the last two. Took the lower groove edge off the last board so it just sat on the tongue...plenty of sticky goo and top nailed. Just got the dining room to do now. 3m x 4m ... an easier task only having two walls to work at can use the stapler start finish..
Cheers.

[Larry McCully]

I'm convinced that anyone who works in the flooring industry laying anything is a mutant. I'm 8 metres from death. everythings killing me.
As for the last three runs...had to hand skew nail 2 runs then top nailed the last two. Took the lower groove edge off the last board so it just sat on the tongue...plenty of sticky goo and top nailed. Just got the dining room to do now. 3m x 4m ... an easier task only having two walls to work at can use the stapler start finish..
Cheers.

Thanks brother, for some strange reason i am taking that as a compliment. lol keep going mate you will get their ,and when you do and its all over, you will have something of beauty in front of you and you did it. That is what keeps us going through the big difficult ones. The end result.