Oak Flooring

It is well to use a damp-proof paper between the oak flooring and the sub-floor. Where sound-proof results are desired, a heavy deadening felt is recommended.

Oak flooring should be laid at an angle to the sub-floor. After laying and nailing three or four pieces, use a short piece of hardwood 2x4 .placed against the tongue, and drive it up.

The nailing of oak flooring is very important. All tongued-and-grooved oak flooring should be blind-nailed. The best floor made can be spoiled by the use of improper nails. The steel cut variety is recommended for all blindnailing.

For -Winch use 8 penny steel cut flooring nail.

For 3/4-inch, use 3 penny wire finishing nail.

The maximum distance between the nails should be: For -Winch thickness, 16 inches.

For %-inch thickness, 10 inches.

For even better results, it is recommended that the nails be driven closer than indicated.

Scraping Oak Floors

After the oak flooring is laid and thoroughly swept, it is better to scrape it, in order to get the best results for a nicely polished surface. This scraping process can be done by the ordinary scrapers, such as used by cabinetmakers, or by one of the many types of power or hand scraping machines that are generally used by contractors and carpenters. Always scrape lengthwise of the wood, and not across the grain. A floor properly scraped looks very smooth, but it should be thoroughly gone over with No. sandpaper to obtain the best results in finishing. After this, the floor should be swept clean, and the dust removed with a soft cloth. The floor is now ready for the finish.

Finishing Oak Floors The finishing of an oak floor is•a very important feature, upon which authorities fail to agree; but the question resolves into a matter of cost, as to the color or brilliancy of finish desired. Personal taste and artistic or decorative effects are the guide for the floor finisher.

The "Clear" grade of oak flooring should have a natural oak filler—color of oak, For the "Select" and "Sap Clear" grades, a light golden oak filler should be used; and, after the floor is filled, it should be gone over with a little burnt umber mixed with turpentine, to darken light streaks. This will make the "Select" and

"Sap Clear" grades look like the "Clear" grade, except that it will be slightly darker in color. In filling the "No. 1 Common" grade, a dark golden oak filler should be employed; and the light streaks should be darkened in the same manner as the "Select" and "Sap Clear" grades. If a little care is used in laying this grade, splendid results can be obtained.

First, treat the floor with a paste filler of desired tone, to fill up the pores and crevices. To thin the filler for application, one has a choice of using turpentine, benzine, wood alcohol, or gasoline to get the right consistency. When the gloss has left the filler, rub off with excelsior or cloth, rubbing against the grain of the wood. This will make a perfectly smooth and level surface. It keeps out dirt and forms a good foundation, which is the keynote for successful treatment of floors. Allow the filler twelve hours to set or dry before applying a wax or varnish finish. Never use a liquid filler on any floor.

A wax or varnish finish can be used. The wax finish is preferred by many, due to economy and ease of renewing places that show the wear. The renewing can be easily applied by housekeeper or servant.

Wax Finish

—The best method for applying the wax is to take cheesecloth, and double it to get a little more thickness; then make it into a sort of bag. Put a handful of wax inside of this, and go over the floor thoroughly. You will find that you can work the wax through the meshes of the cheesecloth to give an even coating over the floor. This prevents too much wax in spots and wasting it. After the floor has been gone over with the wax and allowed to dry say about twenty minutes, it is ready for polishing. Rub to a polish with a weighted floor brush, first across the grain of the wood, then with it. (A clean, soft cloth can be used in place of the brush if desired.) Then a piece of woolen felt or carpet should be placed under the brush to give the finishing gloss. After waiting an hour, a second coat of wax should be applied in the same way as the first, and rubbed to a polish.