salvage and reuse strategy for maple flooring

[MikeT]

My basement in our main house has a basement floor project that I never completed but now want to change gears and need some advice.

The basement has a concrete floor which has a vapor barrier and then is covered with 3/4" t&g maple in shortish segments (each piece ranges from 12-24" in length).  The floor floats and was held together with liquid nails.  It has been very stable.  But now it needs to go. 

I would like to reuse the floor in my beach house project.  I think because of the liquid nails, the tongues are likely to break off in the grooves, so I was thinking of cutting it up into same size squares and then transporting the squares down to the beach and installing them.

I do not mind the idea of screwing these squares onto my floor.  If I go this route, should I put some sort of backer on the squares of maple?

Your good thoughts and ideas are much appreciated.

mt

[glenn kangiser]

Being 3/4 thick already I don't see the need if it is going onto a subfloor anyway.  You may just have to see how they come off and go from there.

[MikeT]

Glenn,

When you say "don't see the need to", what are you referring to?  Cutting up the wood into squares or putting some sort of backer onto the wood?

[glenn kangiser]

I don't see the need for the backer if they will be fastened to the wood  floor and are in one section -  if they tend to come apart you may need to do something.  Just the way I see it now - depends on how they come out though.

If you do the squares - what do you think?  plane the edges - fit and fill with wood filler?  Plugs over the screws or hidden on edges ?   

Just thinking of things that may come up.

[Redoverfarm]

You could actually cut them into varing widths and route a new tounge & groove on them. You might loose a little total width but be easy to install. If the original joints held you could use them 3-4-5 boards wide per plank.

[MikeT]

I was thinking of drilling holes, countersinking screws, and then filling.  But again, I am open to folks' ideas.  Keep 'em coming....

mt

[NM_Shooter]

Or use a biscuit joiner.  Angle nail the edge, insert and glue biscuit, butt join the next piece, and repeat.

[MikeT]

Thanks for the biscuit joiner idea.  I have a small biscuit joiner and haven't had a crucial use.  I might try it.

mt