Fig. 93.—Tongued and Grooved Flooring Board.

Fig. 94. Fig. 95.

Method of Nailing Hardwood Floors.

[Fig. 93] shows the end view of the ordinary 7⁄8-in. "Tongued and Grooved Flooring board," as used in the construction of floors for mills, workshops and cottage property. This type of flooring is nailed to the joists in the ordinary manner, no attempt being made to conceal the nails used.

[Fig. 94] is a section of flooring which is generally made of hardwood, such as maple, oak, or jarrah. It is used in positions such as ballroom and skating rink floors, etc., the tongue and groove being worked in such a manner that the joint covers the nails as shown. Each nail is driven into its position at one edge of the board, the groove holding the next board and hiding the nail ([Fig. 95]).

Fig. 96.—Tongued and Grooved Matchboarding, with Bead on One Side. Fig. 97.—Tongued and Grooved Matchboarding, with Bead at Each Side. Fig. 98.—Matchboarding, Tongued, Grooved and Vee'd.

[Fig. 96] shows an example of matchboarding known as "Tongued, Grooved and Beaded" on one side only, and [Fig. 97] shows a similar type tongued, grooved and beaded on both sides. This variety of matchboarding is known in the trade as "T. G. and B." It is used for nailing on framing to form partitions for rooms, offices, etc., for panelling corridors, etc., and for making framed and ledged doors, building tool houses, cycle sheds and other outhouses.

[Fig. 98] is an example of matchboarding that is tongued, grooved and vee'd on one side, and [Fig. 99] shows tongued, grooved and vee'd both sides. These are used for similar purposes to [Figs. 96 and 97], and many prefer the V matchboarding variety because it is more easily painted than the beaded variety.

The object of working a bead or beads on matchboarding is to break the jointing of the various pieces and to aim at ornamental effect; also to prevent unsightliness should the timber shrink slightly. When a moderate amount of shrinkage takes place, as is nearly always the case, the joint at the side of the bead appears to the casual observer to be the fillet or channel worked at the side of the bead. If the tongues are not painted before the work is put together, the shrinkage will cause the raw wood to show and thus make the joint too much in evidence.

Fig. 99.—Matchboarding Vee'd Both Sides. Fig. 100.—Double-tongued Matchboarding. Fig. 101.—Double-dovetailed, Tongued and Grooved.