Alright, folks, let’s dive into this flooring project I tackled. The mission? Installing some “keel dancing” parquet assembly wooden flooring. Sounds fancy, huh? It’s basically just a fun way of saying I put down some interlocking wood floor tiles.

Getting Started

First things first, I had to clear the area. This meant moving all the furniture out, ripping up the old carpet (which was a dusty, nasty job, let me tell you!), and giving the subfloor a good sweep and vacuum. You want a nice, clean surface to work with.

The Keel Thing

Now, about that “keel” part. This flooring had a plastic backing, a grid, that’s supposed to act like a keel on a boat – providing stability and, I guess, helping with alignment. So, I laid down a moisture barrier first. This is just a thin plastic sheet that prevents any moisture from the subfloor from creeping up and messing with the wood.

Laying the Parquet

With the barrier in place, it was time to start laying down the actual parquet tiles. These things are pretty cool – they have a tongue-and-groove system, so they just click together. I started in one corner, making sure to leave a small gap around the edges of the room for expansion (wood can expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity). I just put quarter inch spacers that i have to get a right gap.

I worked my way across the room, row by row, clicking the tiles together. For the most part, it was pretty straightforward. The “dancing” part, I guess, comes from the fact that you kind of have to step on the tiles to make sure they’re fully locked in. So, yeah, I did a little jig on my new floor.

Dealing with Obstacles

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. I ran into a few doorways and had to cut some tiles to fit. For this, I used a jigsaw. Measure twice, cut once, as they say! I also used a tapping block and a rubber mallet to gently persuade some of the trickier tiles into place. Don’t want to damage those tongues and grooves.

Finishing Up

Once all the tiles were down, I removed the spacers, and installed some baseboards to cover up those expansion gaps and give the room a finished look. Then, I just had to put all the furniture back, and boom! New floor.

cleaned up all of tools and put them back to garage.

It was a bit of a workout, but totally worth it. The room looks completely different, and it feels great underfoot. Plus, I saved a bunch of money by doing it myself. If you’re thinking about tackling a similar project, I say go for it! Just take your time, be patient, and don’t be afraid to do a little “dance” on your new floor.