Wood – Tongue groove wood flooring – oops, I cut them both off

flooringwood

I am installing strand-woven bamboo flooring. One end is grooved, the other has a tongue.

Typically, I cut the tongue side to width and use that at the start of my row. Then I add a full-length board, and then finally the groove side of the board I cut.

My problem is: I've got a few boards where I mistakenly cut off the wrong end, leaving me a board with no tongue or groove on either end.

My question: what is the risk of using these tongueless or grooveless boards to start a row? (meaning I have two boards that abut and are not connected with tongue and groove).

Thanks

Best Answer

The risk is that the boards will become unflush during seasonal expansion and contraction. Even if they look fine going in; tripping hazards will appear at these seams once everything settles (and then unsettles... and back again).

I use a table saw with three blades sandwiched together to cut grooves back into my useless cut-offs. Tongues aren't fun to make, so just use tongueless ones against the wall, cut again to fit.

You can start each row from either side, so long as the cut end goes (spaced, for expansion) against the wall, and you have at least one tongue or one grove.

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