Okay, so I’ve been wanting to try out this “dancing parquet” thing with LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) for a while now. I saw some pictures online, and it looked super cool – a bit different from your regular wood flooring.

Getting Started

First things first, I needed the wood. I went with LVL because it’s supposed to be pretty strong and stable, which is important when you’re messing around with patterns like this. I measured out my space – it was just a small area in my workshop, nothing too crazy. Then, I got a bunch of LVL planks. I opted for the thinner ones, thinking they’d be easier to work with.

Cutting and Experimenting

This is where the fun (and the frustration) began. I wanted that “dancing” effect, so I knew I couldn’t just lay the planks down straight. I started by cutting the LVL into smaller, rectangular pieces. No fancy tools here – just my trusty circular saw and a lot of careful measuring.

• First Attempt: Total disaster. I tried to do a herringbone pattern, but my cuts were off, and it looked… well, let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.
• Second Attempt: I switched to a simpler staggered pattern, kind of like bricks. This was a bit easier, but I still struggled to get everything lined up perfectly.
• Third Attempt: I started playing around with different angles and lengths. I cut some pieces shorter, some longer, some at slight angles. This is where it started to look interesting!

It took A lot time!I realized that precision is key. Even a tiny difference in length or angle can throw the whole thing * hand got a little cut.

Gluing and Clamping

Once I had a layout I liked, it was time to glue everything down. I used regular wood glue – the heavy-duty stuff. I spread it on the back of each piece and pressed it firmly onto the subfloor (which, in my case, was just some plywood).Then using my foot to step on it.

Clamping was a bit tricky because of the irregular shapes. I used a combination of regular clamps and some heavy weights (like paint cans and toolboxes) to make sure everything stayed in place while the glue * was a bit messy.

Finishing Touches

After the glue was completely dry (I waited a full 24 hours, just to be safe), I gave the whole thing a good sanding. This helped to even out any slight differences in height and get rid of any glue * to make sure that no one will be hurt by the wood.

Finally, I applied a couple of coats of polyurethane finish. I wanted something that would protect the wood and give it a bit of a * I wanted a little brighter color.

The Result

It’s not perfect, far from it,but It is my first time to try this. There are definitely some gaps and imperfections. But overall, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out! It’s got that unique, “dancing” look I was going for, and it feels really solid underfoot.I think I did great job.

It was a learning experience, for sure. I definitely made some mistakes along the way, but I also learned a lot about working with LVL and creating unconventional patterns. Would I do it again? Maybe. But next time, I’d probably invest in some better tools and take even more time with the measuring and cutting.