Alright, let me tell you about this flooring job I just wrapped up. Decided it was time to get some proper wooden flooring down in the back room. Ended up going with this larch wood. The label or description was a bit strange, something like ‘rubber Volleyball lvl larch’. Honestly, no clue what the ‘rubber Volleyball’ part really meant, maybe something about the finish or the core? Sounded durable, like it could take some impact. And ‘lvl’, I figured that just stressed how important getting the subfloor flat was.

Getting Started – The Prep Work

First thing you gotta do, always, is prep. Can’t just throw new stuff on top of junk. So, I ripped out the old carpet. Man, that was dusty. Pulled up all the staples and tack strips too. You miss one of those, you’ll know it later.

Then, cleaning. Swept it all up. Then vacuumed. Then wiped it down. You want that surface clean, really clean. After that, I got out my long level. Checked the subfloor everywhere. That ‘lvl’ thing wasn’t a joke. Found a few low spots, nothing major. Mixed up some floor patching compound, troweled it in smooth, and let it dry properly. Patience is key here, can’t rush the foundation.

Laying Down the Base

Next up was the underlayment. This is important, don’t skip it. It helps with sound, a bit of cushioning, and moisture. The stuff I used had a bit of a dense, rubbery feel. Maybe that was the ‘rubber Volleyball’ connection? Felt solid, like it would give good support under the larch. Rolled it out, cut it to fit wall-to-wall, and taped the seams. Nice and neat.

Putting the Larch Planks Together

Now for the main event – the larch planks. These were tongue-and-groove, which makes life easier. Started along the longest wall, like they always say. Important: Remember to leave an expansion gap around the edges! Wood moves, shrinks, expands. Gotta give it space. Used some spacers against the wall.

• Laying the first row straight is critical. Took my time with that one.
• Clicked the next plank into the end groove of the first one. Tapped it snug with a block.
• Cut the last piece of the row, used the leftover bit to start the next row (if it was long enough). This staggers the joints, looks way better and adds strength.
• Row after row. Click, tap, check the gap. Measure, cut, fit. It gets repetitive, but you find a rhythm.

Had a few tricky cuts around a doorway and a heating pipe. That’s where you slow down, measure five times, cut once. A jigsaw or coping saw is your friend here. Made a few mistakes, sure. Had to pull a couple of planks back up. It happens. Just gotta deal with it and move on.

Finishing Touches

Once all the planks were down, I pulled out the spacers. The gaps looked huge for a second, but that’s what trim is for. Measured and cut the baseboards and quarter-round molding. Nailed them in place, covering the expansion gaps nicely. Caulked the top edge of the baseboard for a clean look.

And that was pretty much it. Stood back and looked. Yeah, feels good. Solid floor underfoot. That larch wood looks nice, got a good grain to it. Whatever that ‘rubber Volleyball lvl’ stuff meant on the box, the end result is a sturdy wooden floor. Job done.