Okay, here’s my blog post about the batten, dancing, rubber, tree, assembly, and wooden flooring project, written in the style requested:

Alright, so I started this whole flooring thing because, well, the old floor was just sad. Scratched, warped, you name it. I’d been putting it off, but finally decided to just get it done. I picked out this “dancing rubber tree” wooden flooring – sounded fancy, looked good in the pictures, so why not?

Getting Started

First, I ripped up all the old stuff. What a mess! Dust everywhere, staples I kept stepping on… I really recommend good gloves and some heavy-duty boots for this part. Seriously, save yourself the pain.

Next, I had to get the subfloor ready. It’s the base which make smooth and stable, I leveled some uneven spots with a leveling compound. Just mixed it up, poured it on, and smoothed it out with a trowel. I let that dry completely – super important, otherwise, you’re gonna have a bad time later.

The Batten Part

The battens, right? These are basically just strips of wood that you lay down first. They give the flooring something to attach to, and they also help with, like, airflow and stuff. I measured the room, figured out the spacing, and cut the battens to size. Then I used construction adhesive and some screws to stick them down. Make sure they’re straight! I used a long level and a chalk line to keep things lined up.

Laying the Flooring

Now for the actual flooring. This “dancing rubber tree” stuff came in planks. The assembly manual suggested starting from the longest wall, so that’s what I did. I applied the adhesive to the back of the first plank, then I carefully slotted it in against the wall. And it looked great!

• I used spacers to keep a gap between the flooring and the wall. Expansion and contraction, or something like that.
• Each plank clicked into the one next to it. Some of them were a little stubborn, so I used a tapping block and a rubber mallet to persuade them. Don’t go crazy with the hammer, though!
• For the last row, I usually had to rip the planks lengthwise to fit. I used a table saw for this, but a circular saw would probably work too. Safety glasses are a must!

Because I am a perfectionist, measured everything before installing.

The Finish Line

Once all the flooring was down, I installed the baseboards. These cover the expansion gap and just make everything look nice and finished. I used a miter saw to cut the corners at 45-degree angles. Again, a little bit of a pain, but worth it in the end. I nailed the baseboards to the wall, filled the nail holes with wood filler, and then gave them a coat of paint.

And that’s it! My new “dancing rubber tree” floor is installed. It took a few days of hard work, but honestly, it was totally worth it. The room looks so much better, and it feels great underfoot. If I can do it, anyone can. Just take your time, follow the instructions, and don’t be afraid to get a little dirty!