newbie question re flooring

Started by flyfisher, June 23, 2011, 09:35:43 PM

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flyfisher

Hello, this is my 1st post but I've read with interest many of the topics on the forums. A couple of yrs ago we bought 58 acres (mixed forest, some small pasture) with 400' waterfront on a mid-sized lake in Eastern Ontario. There's a large cleared area where I hope to build a cabin within a few years. I'll try to post (in the land stories forum?) some pics of the land later. Last summer we (=contractor as I was away) built a 9'x12'shed (cannot be called a bunkie b/c of bylaws.....).

I've 'salvaged' about 300SF of old T&G pine flooring (1x6; true width is 5 1/4 I think) from a friend's reno. I suspect it's (way) more work to use this material than to get new stuff but my wife is very keen on seeing it in the bunkie (er, shed) and I confess it has some charm and I feel good about reclaiming it. Boards are various lengths; 4-12'. I need ~100SF to do the job. Here's my "plan" and some options that have been suggested.

NOTE: I have very little real building, framing, woodworking experience but have been learning a bit here and there with help from sites like this (thanks!!) and from friends. Also, no electricity up there yet so all work is done at home (45 min drive) first.

Plan:(keep in mind this is a shed, rustic is OK)
After making sure all nails are out;
-cut longer boards to more manageable (but variable) lengths (say 4,6,8') for transport
-rip tongue and groove from each board

Here are the suggestions that were made to me for prep and installation options:
-could make new T&G with router (discouraged by several folks as most labour intensive and tricky)
-make grooves on each edge and spline
-keep edges square and install with screws (through face) and plugs or nails and fill (easiest? but perhaps least aesthetically pleasing)
-make shiplap edges

There's been a few other suggestions but I'll leave it there for now. I'll try to load a pic of the shed.

Happy to hear ideas, suggestions, comments.

Thanks





flyfisher

#1
I'm trying to post a pic of the shed from flickr, let's see if it works... been a while since I've done this....


John Raabe

You basically copy the image URL and paste it between the IMG brackets produced when you click the picture frame icon on the line above the smileys.

None of us are as smart as all of us.

flyfisher

Quote from: John Raabe on June 24, 2011, 12:03:36 AM
You basically copy the image URL and paste it between the IMG brackets produced when you click the picture frame icon on the line above the smileys.



That's what I thought I had done. I'm using Flickr and was able to upload my image. Action links there offer the "link" or HTML/BBCode. I'll try the later this time though it looks fishy. Sorry for the tech glitches.

flyfisher

Quote from: John Raabe on June 24, 2011, 12:03:36 AM
You basically copy the image URL and paste it between the IMG brackets produced when you click the picture frame icon on the line above the smileys.



Going to try this again after reading some Flickr posting advice. If it fails I'll open a photobucket account.....

Here's a photo from our shore below the shed (setback is 100')





duncanshannon

 w*

beautiful lakeshore!  i cant offer much advice yet on your questions... i'm in learning mode too.

so you are just working on getting the flooring in?  I'd find a generator (bring power with you) and just get to work and figure it out up there.  Cutting to lengths to make it manageable doesnt seem like a bad idea. I'd cut it just enough to get it to fit into your truck/trailer.

Home: Minneapolis, MN area.  Land: (no cabin yet) Spooner, WI area.  Plan: 20x34 1 1/2 Story. Experience Level: n00b. 
Build Thread: http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=10784.0

MushCreek

I'm not following why you are going to cut the T&G off?

Another option is face nailing with wrought-head nails. They then become a decorative feature instead of something to hide. Tremont Nail sells them. If the wood is old, you might have to drill it to nail it.
Jay

I'm not poor- I'm financially underpowered.

Native_NM

If the floor is in bad shape but the T&G is good, you can always plane it.  Rent a small metal detector (or see Harbor Freight) and make sure there are no nails or metal that will destroy your planer.  Then plane each piece on the same side the same number of times.  It shouldn't take much to remove the old finish.  You will have new, raw flooring.  Refinish as desired.
New Mexico.  Better than regular Mexico.