Okay, so I’ve been wanting to redo my floors for, like, forever. And I finally decided to go for it! I saw this “dancing parquet” pattern online, and I was obsessed. It looked so cool and different. I decided to use LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) because it’s supposed to be pretty strong and stable, and I like the look of the layered edges.

Getting Started

First, I measured my room like a million times. Seriously, measure twice (or ten times), cut once. That’s the golden rule. Then I went and got all the LVL planks. This was a bit of a workout, those things are heavy! I also picked up some good quality adhesive and a moisture barrier, because nobody wants squeaky, warped floors.

The Prep Work

Before I could even think about laying down the wood, I had to prep the subfloor. This was probably the least fun part. I made sure it was super clean and level. I had to fill in some cracks and sand down a few bumps. It was dusty and boring, but totally necessary.

Laying the LVL Dancing Parquet

Then came the fun part (well, kinda fun, kinda stressful!). I started laying out the planks in the dancing parquet pattern. It’s basically like a giant, wooden jigsaw puzzle. I dry-fit everything first, to make sure it all looked right and I wouldn’t end up with any weird gaps at the edges.

Once I was happy with the layout, I started gluing. I applied the adhesive to the subfloor in small sections, then carefully placed each plank. This took forever, and my back was definitely feeling it. I used spacers to make sure the gaps between the planks were even, used heavy books to keep the planks stay in place.

Finishing Up

After all the planks were down and the glue was dry, it was time for the finishing touches. I filled any tiny gaps with wood filler. And there were the gaps! I used lots of wood filler. Then, after another round of drying time, I got a big machine to sand the whole floor to a smooth finish. Finally, I wanted to keep the LVL looking fresh, so I applied a few coats of sealant for protection.

Honestly, it was a lot more work than I expected. My back was killing me, and I was covered in sawdust for days. But seeing the finished floor, it was totally worth it! My “dancing parquet” LVL floor is the coolest thing ever, and I did it all myself! (Okay, with a little help from YouTube tutorials…).