So last weekend I finally tackled installing that pad volleyball level larch wood flooring in my basement gym corner. Man, it sounded simple but lemme tell ya, I tripped up a few times. Here’s exactly how it went down, warts and all.
The Messy Start
First off, I ripped open the boxes like a kid on Christmas morning. Big mistake. Didn’t check squat. Later I found out:
- Two planks had nasty dings near the tongue edge. Probably shipping damage.
- The underpad foam rolls? Yeah, one was literally half the size. Sneaky.
Lesson slapped me in the face: Unpack EVERYTHING, lay it all out, and stare at it like a hawk before touching a single tool. Would’ve saved me a Walmart run later.
Subfloor Shenanigans
My concrete floor looked smooth. Spoiler: it lied. Only noticed the gritty bumps when I laid the first underpad section. Like walking on Legos. Grabbed my straightedge – gaps big enough to swallow ants. Spent three hours:
- Sweeping like a maniac
- Grinding down stubborn lumps with a rented concrete grinder (sounded like angry bees)
- Vacuuming up dust ’til the Hoover whimpered
Almost skipped it. So glad I didn’t. Uneven underpad = squeaky nightmare floors. No thanks.
The Gap Disaster (Almost)
Started clicking planks along the longest wall. Felt like a genius… until I stood back. The last plank was a skinny little sliver near the far wall. Looked pathetic. Forgot the golden rule: never end a row with a tiny piece. Measured wrong from the jump. Had to backtrack:
- Yanked up the first six rows (curse words were used)
- Recalculated starting point using the plank width + gap allowance
- Started again with a cut piece, making sure end pieces wouldn’t be tiny
Wasted half a day. Tape measure is now my best friend.
Hammer Time Gone Wrong
Got cocky. Some planks wouldn’t click snug. “Easy fix,” I thought, grabbing my rubber mallet. WHACKED it straight down on the tongue… heard a sickening CRACK. Split the groove clean open. Mortifying. Learned fast:
- NEVER hit directly on the edge
- Use a tapping block like a shield against the plank side
- Gentle taps, like persuading a kitten – brute force wrecks larch wood
Expansion Gap? What Expansion Gap?
Nearly glued the very last plank tight against the wall. Brain freeze moment. Remembered just in time: wood swells. Summer humidity would make it buckle like a rollercoaster. Panicked, pulled it out:
- Shoved 10mm spacers against EVERY wall
- Reinstalled, leaving a perfect breathing space
- Covered gaps with baseboards later (thank god)
Close call. Shoved the spacers in my toolbox for next time. Lifesavers.
So yeah, installed it mostly right after stumbling like a newbie. Looks awesome now, but man, does humble pie taste terrible. Hope this rant saves someone else’s sanity!
