Alright, so I tackled this “keel dancing birch assembly wooden flooring” project, and let me tell you, it was a journey! I started out pretty clueless, just staring at a pile of wood and a bunch of online tutorials.

First thing I did was prep the subfloor. This was crucial. I made sure it was super clean, level, and dry. Any bumps or dips would’ve messed up the whole thing. I used a leveling compound in a couple of spots to get it perfect. It took a lot of patiance to get it flat.

Next up, I laid down the underlayment. I chose the one with moisture barrier, I think it could help the wood resist water. This felt like a small victory because it was pretty straightforward – just roll it out and tape the seams.

The Keel System

Okay, here’s where it got interesting – the keel system. This wasn’t your typical nail-down flooring. The keels are basically these long strips that create a framework for the floorboards to sit on. I had to figure out the layout, making sure they were spaced correctly and running in the right direction. I measured, and measured again, I don’t want to make any mistake.

Once I had the keel layout sorted, I started assembling the framework. This involved connecting the keel pieces, I spent a lot of time to make sure everthing fit together. It was like a giant puzzle, and I definitely felt a sense of accomplishment as it started to take shape.

Laying the Birch Boards

Now for the main event: laying the birch boards. This “dancing” part in the name refers to how the boards interlock with the keel system. You don’t nail them down; they kind of “float” on top. I started in one corner, carefully slotting the first board into the keel. It took some wiggling and gentle tapping to get it right.

From there, I worked my way across the room, one board at a time. Each board had to be aligned perfectly with the previous one and the keel. I used a tapping block and a rubber mallet to snug them together, making sure there were no gaps. I must keep my eyes on it.

Cutting the boards around doorways and walls was a bit tricky. I used a jigsaw for most of it, and a handsaw for some of the tighter spots. I took my time and made sure to measure twice (or even three times!) before cutting. Get all boards perfectly matched.

Finishing Touches

After all the boards were down, I installed the baseboards. This covered the expansion gap around the edges of the room and gave it a nice, finished look. I used a miter saw to cut the corners at 45-degree angles, which was surprisingly satisfying. I add some trim and make some clean.

Finally, I gave the floor a good cleaning and stood back to admire my handiwork. It wasn’t perfect, there were a few minor imperfections, but overall, I was pretty darn proud of myself. I’d taken a pile of wood and turned it into a beautiful, functional floor. Now, it is done!