loft decking mistake

[dug]

I had my loft decking material delivered along with a large lumber order. It was quite some time ago and I'm embarrassed to say I didn't check it so well and it turns out it is not what I thought I had ordered. It has the v groove and rough cut surface on one side like I wanted, and is smooth on the other side, but has the v grooves on top- not what I wanted!



So now I am not sure what to do, too late to return it. Use it in the loft anyway? It will be a bedroom (bare feet or slippers required!)  but I can't see how those grooves wouldn't just collect dirt, and be a bear to clean out.

I could use it for the wainscot treatment I was planning downstairs and buy different decking for the loft  but that would be some expensive and unnecessarily beefy (2 by 6) wainscot.

What is this type of decking normally used for?

[Erin]

Have you called your mill yet to see if they might work with you?

[MikeOnBike]

Can you have them re-cut the tongue/groove?  It would probably make your stock about an inch narrower.

[psammy]

Install the v-groove down (as your ceiling) and rent a floor sander to smooth out the rough sawn (or just install a prefinished hardwood over the rough stuff).....good luck.

psammy

[nathan.principe]

you could send it thru a planer if you know someone who has one and knock the top down a 1/4" and make the groove go away??? Or put it on craigslist and try to get as much back out of it money wise as you can to purchase the right stuff

[dug]

Have you called your mill yet to see if they might work with you?

Unfortunately, the "mill" was HD.

Can you have them re-cut the tongue/groove?  It would probably make your stock about an inch narrower

I might be able to have someone else do it.

Install the v-groove down (as your ceiling) and rent a floor sander to smooth out the rough sawn (or just install a prefinished hardwood over the rough stuff).....good luck.

psammy
Posted on: Today at 06:05:51 PM

The grove is on both sides, and I wanted the rough sawn face to be the finished ceiling below.

you could send it thru a planer if you know someone who has one and knock the top down a 1/4" and make the groove go away??? Or put it on craigslist and try to get as much back out of it money wise as you can to purchase the right stuff

I thought of that, but I don't think it could safely span the 32 inches if I did. If I don't use it in the loft I will use it elsewhere in the house.

I guess I could just live with it. It does have a nice rustic look, which I like. I suppose I could cover it later if it didn't work out.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

[astidham]

dug, I bet you they would take the return.
I installed a patio door after having it almost 2 months HD took it back

[MountainDon]

Install it the way it was intended. Then install some other floor on top of it at right angles, or diagonally across it.    Could be thinner T&G with no grooves.

[rick91351]

Wow Dug I can understand why you did not catch that until now.  We used to make Vee-ed edge center match at a planer mill I worked at.  You turned it one way the vee was exposed to the top or bottom.  If it went down it was solid above like for the floor you are talking about.  Very functional pattern if you can find some.  If it is HD where you got it I bet they will take it back. 

[rocking23nf]

Other then dirt, i think it would look pretty sharp myself.

[MountainDon]

inlat strips of a contrasting color wood.

or chrome strips.

[dug]

Insert Quote
Other then dirt, i think it would look pretty sharp myself

I laid some of it up in the loft, It does look nice.

inlat strips of a contrasting color wood.

or chrome strips.

Posted on: Today at 06:19:17 AM Po

That would look pretty sharp with my chromed rebar! 

[Jeff922]

If it was me, I'd put it in for now and go back to it later as time allows.  I would make a fixture to run a groove with a straight router bit just big enough to remove the vee.  Then I would fill the grooves with contrasting dark, hardwood splines (perhaps cherry).  It would be a little time consuming, but this little mistake could be just the excuse you need to make a truely unique wood floor.

[apiratelooksat40]

If that's the only flooring treatment on-top of your loft beams, and you choose to flip them rough-side up, I bet you'll have an interesting effect looking up to the underside of the loft floor from the first floor.

On a side-note, I've returned  O L D  purchases to HD, even without the receipt.  As long as you're ok with store credit, they take it back without much issue.