I could do with some advice from someone who knows about timber.
I'm planning to put a real timber floor down by nailing it at 150mm centres at 45 degrees with a Porta Nailer into the timber below. I read up about it I see a) leave a 1/2" around all the edges b) the timber expands widthways more than length ways. c) push the new row up against the previous row.
Now I'm happy with the concept of expansion and why it's more in one direction than the other. However, if I've nailed a run so it's mechanically fixed to the timber below, where does the widthways expansion go when the wood gently expands if I've pushed the new row up against the previous row? In my mind its either forced upwards slightly, or there should be a tiny gap left when fitting to allow for the movement.
Can someone put me straight please?
I'm planning to put a real timber floor down by nailing it at 150mm centres at 45 degrees with a Porta Nailer into the timber below. I read up about it I see a) leave a 1/2" around all the edges b) the timber expands widthways more than length ways. c) push the new row up against the previous row.
Now I'm happy with the concept of expansion and why it's more in one direction than the other. However, if I've nailed a run so it's mechanically fixed to the timber below, where does the widthways expansion go when the wood gently expands if I've pushed the new row up against the previous row? In my mind its either forced upwards slightly, or there should be a tiny gap left when fitting to allow for the movement.
Can someone put me straight please?
