Matching. Where finished hardwood floors are used, it will be necessary to have the floor boards matched so that the nails may be concealed. Blind nailing, this is called, and by this method the board will be nailed only on one edge, and the matching depended upon to hold down the other edge of the board, For this reason the floor should be laid of narrow strips each with a tongue and groove, the grooved edge being forced over the tongue of the preceding strip and the tongue in turn nailed diagonally. (Fig. 92.) The under floors, where a nice, handsome upper floor is desired, should be in narrow widths not over four inches wide, for each board in shrinking will compress as many strips of the upper floor as may be upon it, together, leaving a wide crack over the crack in under floor. This defect may be overcome by laying the raider floor diagonally or at right angles to the upper floor.
Stock. Of flooring stock in general, quartered oak makes the best floor for appearance and wearing quality, but birch and maple are used to a great extent, and rift hard pine will make a good floor for ordinary use. Quartered oak is sawn from the trees as nearly as is possible on radial lines (Fig. 93), and shows an even, straigh t grain with irregular streaks, upon a ground of fine parallel lines.
In rift hard pine the parallel grain is more pronounced and of a coarse growth. All flooring must be kiln-dried and laid loot from the kiln, or as soon as possible after delivery. To obtain a perfectly
even surface the floor must be "traversed ", that is, planed across the grain so as to bring the floor to a perfectly level surface. A thin floor which is only thick is used to good advantage over an under floor which is in good condition. This floor is skill fully handled by a professional floor-layer, and is often Laid to a more or less fancy pattern. Being too thin to match, these floors are nailed through and the nail holes are so cleverly puttied up as to be almost invisible. It is a good plan to keep artificial Beat in the building while the floors and finish are being put up, which should be main tained until occupancy. This is especially necessary in the case of parcliietry floors.
Miscellaneous. A number of different points connected with the finishing of the house will now arise, and the superintendent will do well to inspect the work constantly to see that every visible detail is completed as it should be. Thresholds should be carefully fitted, cornices, chair-rails, and picture-mouldings run level and true. Sashes must be tried to be sure that they are accurately balanced and hung. Every sash-fast, lock and knob must be examined and all drawers, slides and other movable fixtures tested and left in good working order.