Okay, here’s my blog post about putting in some wooden flooring. It was a bit of a project, but I got it done!

So, I decided to tackle the flooring in my spare room. I’d been putting it off, but it was time. The old carpet was, well, old, and I wanted something a bit more modern. I went with this “batten dancing pine” stuff – basically, wooden planks that you kinda puzzle-piece together.

Getting Started

First things first, I ripped out that nasty old carpet. Man, that was dusty! Underneath, I found the original floorboards. They were in pretty okay shape, just needed a good sweep and a quick check for any loose nails. I hammered down any I found sticking up.

The Battens

Then came the battens. These are just strips of wood that you lay down first. They give you a level surface to work on, especially if your floorboards are a bit wonky like mine were. I measured out the room, figured out how many battens I needed, and then started laying them down. I used a spirit level to make sure they were, you know, level. Used some wood glue and screws to stick ’em down firmly.

Laying the Floor

Once the battens were in and the glue was dry, it was time for the actual flooring. I started in one corner, laying down the first plank. The “dancing pine” planks had these little tongues and grooves, so they kinda clicked together. It was like a giant jigsaw puzzle. I used a rubber mallet to gently tap them into place, making sure they were nice and snug.

• Measure the area to calculate to obtain the data of how many battens that are needed.
• Lay down the battens using wood glue and screws.
• Use the rubber mallet to gently tap the “dancing pine” into the right place.

The Tricky Bits

The edges were a pain. I had to cut some of the planks to fit around the door frame and the walls. I used a hand saw for this – I don’t have any fancy power tools. It took a bit of time and patience, but I got there in the end. I left a small gap around the edges, to allow for the wood to expand and contract with the temperature.

Finishing Up

After all the planks were down, I gave the whole floor a good sweep and a wipe. It looked pretty darn good, if I do say so myself! It’s amazing what a difference a new floor can make. The room feels totally different now – brighter and more, well, finished.

I felt very contented.

So, yeah, that’s my flooring adventure. It wasn’t super easy, but it was definitely satisfying. If I can do it, anyone can!