Okay, so the other day I had this project to do. It involved laying down some batten volleyball parquet timber flooring. Let me tell you, it was a bit of a journey, but a fun one. Here’s how it went down:

Getting Started

First things first, I gathered all my materials and tools. I mean everything. Nothing worse than starting a project and realizing you’re missing something crucial halfway through. My checklist included:

• The parquet timber, obviously!
• Battens (these are the wooden strips that go underneath)
• A good saw – a circular saw, to be exact
• Hammer and nails (lots of ’em)
• Measuring tape, pencil, level, and a square
• Safety glasses and gloves. Don’t want any splinters or smashed fingers!

Prepping the Subfloor

The room I was working in was pretty bare, with just a concrete subfloor. I made sure it was super clean – swept it, vacuumed it, the whole nine yards. Any little bumps or debris would mess with the level of the floor later, so this step was important. I also check any moistures or humps before it.

Laying the Battens

Next up, I started laying down the battens. These create a framework for the parquet and also help with airflow underneath. I spaced them out evenly, making sure they were all parallel. This took some time and a lot of measuring, but I kept checking with my level to make sure everything was straight. I nailed them securely to the subfloor, making sure the nails were flush so they wouldn’t poke through later.

The Parquet Puzzle

Now for the fun part – laying the actual parquet! It’s like a giant jigsaw puzzle. I started in one corner of the room and worked my way out. Each piece of parquet had a tongue and groove, so they fit together snugly. I used a tapping block and a hammer to gently nudge them into place. Gotta be careful not to damage the edges!

As I went along, I made sure to stagger the joints – you know, so it doesn’t look like a grid. It gives it a more natural, flowing look. I used the circular saw to cut pieces to fit around the edges of the room and any awkward corners. That was a bit tricky, but slow and steady wins the race.

Finishing Touches

Once all the parquet was down, I gave the whole floor a good once-over. I checked for any loose pieces or gaps. Then, I installed some baseboards around the edges of the room to cover the expansion gap (you need a little space for the wood to expand and contract with temperature changes). And That is the final step of my little project.

Finally, it’s all done. It took a good chunk of time, but seeing the finished floor was totally worth it. It looked amazing, all shiny and new. And the best part? I did it myself!