Kit home DIY flooring guide
for raised floor systems
Modern DIY flooring can be specified in your kit home inclusions to include particle board flooring or tongue and groove soft or hardwood. Sheet flooring can be affixed directly and securely to correctly laid joist and bearer piered floor systems.
There may be many types of wood flooring on the market, but the best way to install a wood floor is to use structural sheeting which covers 3.6 metres x 0.8 metres: that's nearly 3 square metres (3.2sq yards) per sheet. A 100 square metre (110 sq yard) floor can be layed by the DIY flooring handyman-that's you sunshine-in under two days, with a speed saw and nail gun or cordless drill. Particle board flooring has a pvc tongue on one edge and a receiving groove on the other.
The resin enriched surface of modern particle flooring ensures weather durability and can be left exposed for a few months. They are also supplied with treatments against fungus and termites and all edges are wax sealed. They are designed to be laid as a platform for the erection of frame walls.
DIY flooring: how to lay structafloor sheets
Draw a centre line square to the edge across your floor lengthwise using a string-line. Start by laying the first sheet length ways across the wood joists with the tongue facing forward. The combination of 3.6 metre sheeting length and 450mm joist centres ensures the 'butt ends' meet and are supported at the centre of the joist.
Lay a thick bead of wood flooring adhesive along the joist, firm the board down in place and secure with nails or screws at 150mm centres at butt ends and 200mm centres for field nails.
Lay the next sheet sideways along the joists and trim off the last board where necessary. Stagger boards to ensure floor strength.
When inserting a board into a groove lay a bead of glue on the tongue and insert firmly until the edges meet. Wipe off any excess glue and secure as you go.
Tips for layin diy flooring
- Ensure correct sub-floor clearance and ventilation (min 450mm)
- Set out joists to suit sheet size and thickness
- Protect sheets from the weather before installation.
- Make sure butt joints are supported by joists or noggings
- Avoid build-up of concrete, plaster and paint on layed floor.
- Do not allow water to pool on sheets
- Do not stack heavy concreted loads on floor panels.
- Do not Bondcrete or otherwise seal floor during construction – this will prevent floor drying out properly.
- And a final hint – screws (rather than nails) produce a better squeak–free finish for DIY installers.
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