Solid wood flooring, is it really this difficult?!

[T1547]

Op, if you want some free advice (in addition to the unanimous opinions already given here that this is not the way to approach the successful installation of your floor) do yourself a favour and give a wood flooring adhesive manufacturer a call. They will most likely have a technical department and can give you a specification to achieve a good installation based on your wood flooring finish and subfloor build up. You can then give this to a decent contractor to work from.

As a starter, if you’re laying over insulation and want to build up the levels (purpose of the battens?), then put a slip membrane over the insulation, lay a floating t&g chipboard floor (glued together at joints) then install your wood flooring directly to that, ideally glued with suitable polymer adhesive.

[ClaphamGT3]

Flibble said:

I agree with the above about doing it yourself, really not that hard. You don't need a fancy hammer thing either, mine went together with a normal hammer and a block of wood.

This was the first t&g flooring I'd laid, came out alright, the bay window was a chore though.

That is actually giving me a headache looking at it

[mcg_]

LOL they've even gone out an bought a cheap crappy chop saw from the job!!! Oh my days, where do you even find these sorts of people (not even going to call them a trade).

So many things wrong it's hilarious.

[Black_S3]

Have they checked what’s going to happen height wise when they get to the door?

[Darkslider]

Black_S3 said:

Have they checked what’s going to happen height wise when they get to the door?

Hopefully it opens outwards

[Jediworrier]

Have you shouted at them yet? I still want to know if your Sparks has exported PME to your outbuildling, maybe he'll have the last laugh!

Edited by Jediworrier on Sunday 25th October 00:47

Edited by Jediworrier on Sunday 25th October 00:51

[Catz]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Flibble said:

I agree with the above about doing it yourself, really not that hard. You don't need a fancy hammer thing either, mine went together with a normal hammer and a block of wood.

This was the first t&g flooring I'd laid, came out alright, the bay window was a chore though.

That is actually giving me a headache looking at it

Why?

[anonymous-user]

But the battens...

[gts.981]

Not difficult when you know how. You and your ‘expert’ just don’t know how. I laid this on my own in a long weekend.

[ClaphamGT3]

Catz said:

ClaphamGT3 said:

Flibble said:

I agree with the above about doing it yourself, really not that hard. You don't need a fancy hammer thing either, mine went together with a normal hammer and a block of wood.

This was the first t&g flooring I'd laid, came out alright, the bay window was a chore though.

That is actually giving me a headache looking at it

Why?

It's laid in the wrong direction

[CheesecakeRunner]

My gym floor is concrete, then 18mm marine ply, then 18mm horse stall matting.

At least with that I know I can stand a squat rack on it, and drop a very heavy barbell without anything happening. Not sure I’d even want to stand on the OPs floor.

As it’s a new build, I assume it’s a concrete slab, why wouldn’t you build a floor fit for purpose?

[anonymous-user]

CheesecakeRunner said:

As it’s a new build, I assume it’s a concrete slab, why wouldn’t you build a floor fit for purpose?

Looking at the two other threads the OP has running on this outbuilding, I’m assuming it’s a cost cutting exercise gone too far.

[Djtemeka]

Jesus holy Christ! OP I can believe you’re allowing them to carry on! 4 pages of “remove the battens” and you’re still plodding on.
There is literally NOTHING right with that job. Sack them off, rip it up and start over. There is NO other correct alternative.

[Flibble]

ClaphamGT3 said:

It's laid in the wrong direction

Ah there we come to the compromise, it was flowed through several rooms so ended up being that way round.

[campionissimo]

Those pine boards are going to split and crack as soon as the gym equipment moves in.

[vaud]

With the narrow nature of the battens, would the weight damage the insulation as well?

[NumBMW]

SOLID WOOD FLOORING, IS IT REALLY THIS DIFFICULT?!

All together now - NO

GETTING THE OP TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, IS IT REALLY THIS DIFFICULT?!

All together now - YES

Absolutely crazy to carry on with this.
This shows the OP to be as much if not more of a cowboy as the lads doing the job.

[Bandit110]

Jesus Christ.
This is a joke!

Terrible idea for laying the flooring,
Obviously absolute amateur 'tradesmen',
And an owner whining about time, ignoring all advice and who will "get someone better on Monday" (cos good tradesmen are on standby at a moments notice)

jhee fkin whizz

[anonymous-user]

I reckon the OP is on a wind-up!

[Gtom]

It’s softwood t&g flooring?!

It needed 22mm chipboard going down first then the boards could have been secret fixed with tongue tite screws. What you have got now just isn’t right.