TIMBER FLOORING

Timber Flooring
I.

Timber flooring is also known as wood or plank flooring where generally recycled or
reclaimed wooden boards are installed to make flooring in home or office.

II. There are many distinctive terms used for timber flooring because it is one of its
kinds in flooring and have had been used from time immemorial in homes and
offices.
III. Timber flooring is commonly also known as planking because it makes use of hard
board wood planks. Planking is preferred over many other types of flooring due to
the aesthetic appeal it provides to the interiors.
IV. The colour and types of wood used rely on the demand and budget of the customer.

Types of timber flooring:

o

Hardwood flooring is known as tongue and groove flooring system which is installed
for its wonderful durability and ever lasting beauty. The hardwood tongue and groove
flooring is designed to be installed directly onto the floor or over concrete and also can be
nailed onto the old wooden flooring. Types of wood installed have three grades i.e. select,
natural and standard grades.

Parquetry is another type of timber flooring which is hardwearing and can be avail in
two styles that is mosaic and block. The two styles of parquetry are arranged in different
patterns and features which customer desires. Different grades of wood are used in this
style of flooring such as alpine ash, blackbutt, Tasmanian oak and many more.

o. Strip flooring Strip wooden flooring makes use of wooden planks arranged in
narrow tongued and grooved hardboards which are nailed into the timber joists. Strip
flooring is generally laid parallel to the length of the room.
o. Wood mosaic flooring Wood mosaic flooring is quite similar to wood block as
arranged in herringbone or basket weave patterns followed by mounted on using
aluminum foil in order to form panels. The mosaics installed are indeed very small
with the thickness of 10 mm.
o. Laminate flooring Laminate flooring is altogether new to the wooden flooring as it
only gives the illusion of wooden floor but quite cheap and durable than wood.
Laminate timber flooring doesnt subject to problems like contraction, checking and
cupping.
o. Bamboo flooring Bamboos are considered durable, reliable and versatile for its
strength when it comes to flooring and have become popular among customers.
Bamboo are chosen more over timber because it grows faster than wood and most
economical and environment friendly.

Strip flooring

Bamboo flooring

Wood mosaic flooring

Laminate flooring

Installation of timber flooring

Several steps have to be taken before installing wooden floor. It is important
that the intended surface is made smooth and level before installation. The
floor can be leveled up with some agent or sanded or filled to make it flat.
Timber flooring is installed after the construction of home or renovation and
several preparations done in home.
The floorboards should be laid on the floor in randomly staggered
configuration. Consider two factors to determine the direction in which
timber has to be run. Firstly chose the longest wall and lay parallel to the wall,
secondly make sure that some natural source of light fall on boards.
Start measuring the width of the floor and ensure that measurement is taken
wall to wall at right angle to run the board.
Black builders plastic should be laid with the thickness of 0.2 mm which will
act as barrier against moisture and seam must be covered with plastic tape.

The underplayed flooring must be rolled so that every end and sides fit
properly against the walls. Make sure the seams between lengths joins
together from the end so as to avoid overlap.
Place the board with groove side facing the wall followed by second
board but before you do that, apply good amount of glue to the top of
tongue of the end join so that the joints are firm.
Last board is applied if necessary and a gap of 8 mm has to be left
around the perimeter of all walls. Now start with second row using cutoff from the former row and continue in the same process until the
installation completes.
The final boards need to be cut lengthwise and to mark the width of
cut, place final board on the top o last board. Make use of floorboard
off-cut, slide the off-cut along the wall along the wall scribing with a
pencil placed against the wall and cut off the board along the line.

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS:

Basement or Ground floor of timber.

Single Joist timber beam.

Double Joist timber beam.

Framed triple joist timber floor.

Auditorium dances and dramas.

Filling of selected earth
wall
Bridging joists

Floor Boards

F.L.

D.P.C.

G.L
.

1.2 to 1.8m
Sleeper
wall

Wall plates

10 to 15 mm Cement course

Precautions
Soil below timber floor covered with PCC 1:2:4 (100 to 150 mm
thick).
DPC exterior wall + top of the sleeper wall.
Well seasoned timber is used.
Hollow space between bottom of concrete and floor level is filled up
with selected earth.

S i n g l e j o i s t t i m b e r fl o o r s

Span (below 3m)

Joist

Strutting

PLAN

Detail at

Air space

Floor boards
Joist

Wall

Wall plate

Ceiling

Section on ab

Joist

Wedges
Floor boards

300 400 mm

Herring bone strutting

D o u b l e j o i s t t i m b e r fl o o r s

3.6 to 7.5m

1.8m to 2.4m

300mm

Bridging joist
@ 300 mm
c/c

Binders

PLAN

M e t h o d s o f fi x i n g b i n d e r s w i t h j o i s t s

Floor boards

Notched joint

Bridging Joist

Bridging Joist

Cogged
Joint

Binders
Fillet

Disadvantages

The weight of the floor is

thrown on the few points
on the wall.

Depth of the floor is increased by

use of binders and accordingly,

Bridging Joist

the height of the room is

decreased.
Binders

Fr a m e d o r t r i p l e j o i s t t i m b e r fl o o r s
Bridging joist

More than 7.5m

Binders

3m

Girders

PLAN

D e t a i l s o f f r a m e d t i m b e r fl o o r s
Floor boards
Furring piece

Bridging joists

Girders
Binder

Binder

Ceiling
Tusk and tenon joint

Ceiling joist

Single joist

Double joist

Triple joist
(framed)
More than 7.5m

3.6 to 7.5m

Below 3 m

Strutting

Joist

Bridging
joist

Bridging
joist

Binder

Girder

1.8m to 2.4m

Binders

Floor boards :

Pugging:

@ top of the bridging joist

Width : 100 200mm
Thk : 20 40mm
When subjected to heavy
traffic - thk: 60- 80mm

In order to make timber floor sound

proof.
Pugging plaster mixture of chopped
straw & mortar.
Insulated boards are supported on fillets.

Floor ceiling :

Bridging
joists
Fillets

Insulating
boards

Underside of the floor, improve

appearance.
Plaster boards, asbestos cement sheets.
Rest on the bridging joists / binders.

Advantages of timber floor

Being strong and durable wooden floor provides infinite benefits as
it is as beautiful as any other designer flooring.
Timber flooring can withstand huge traffic without replacement and
minimal maintenance.
It just needs to be re-sanded or re-polished to retain its original
luster and finish.
Eco-friendly and natural material which hardly requires energy
during manufacturing.
Timber is hypo-allergic which do not extract dirt and other
allergens.
Good insulator and hygienic
Low maintenance

Disadvantages of timber flooring

Expensive
May loose its shine giving dull look
Takes lot of time to set on the floor
Sometimes slippery and dangerous

BIBLIOGRAPHY
BORDERS UNDERFLOOR HEATING
http://www.woodfloorsonline.com/techtalk/properties.html