Page 340 - 2018 National Home Improvement

2018 National Home Improvement Estimator, All Rights Reserved Page 273

Stagger the end joints of strip flooring so butts are separated in adjacent courses. Install each new strip
tightly against the previously installed strip. Use shorter strips and crooked strips at the end of courses
or in closets. Leave a 1/2" to 5/8” space between the last course of flooring and the wall, just as with the
first course. Face-nail the last course where the base or shoe will cover the nail head.

Square-edged strip flooring must be installed over a substantial subfloor and should be face-nailed.
Other than that, the installation procedure is the same as for matched (tongue-and-groove) flooring.
Wood strip flooring is always nailed.

Parquet tile is made from narrow wood slats formed into a square. Parquet block flooring can be applied
with adhesive over a concrete floor protected from moisture with a vapor barrier. Spread adhesive on the
slab or underlayment with a notched trowel. Then lay parquet in the adhesive. If you elect to nail parquet
flooring to wood underlayment, nail through the tongue, the same as with wood strip flooring. Minimize
problems associated with shrinkage and swelling by changing the grain direction of alternate blocks.

You can install particleboard tile over underlayment the same way you install parquet tile – except
particleboard tile shouldn’t be installed directly over concrete. Follow the manufacturer's installation
instructions. Particleboard tile is usually 9” x 9” and 3/8” thick, with tongue-and-groove edges. The back
is often marked with small saw kerfs to stabilize the tile and provide a better grip for adhesive.