Plank Flooring

Plank flooring is loosely defined as anything with a 3″ or wider face (1 ½” to 2 ¼” is called “strip”.) We manufacture plank flooring in any width available lumber will allow. We once did a Mahogany floor with widths up to 23.” However, for most applications we recommend stopping at an 8″ face. This is mostly due to the expansion and contraction of the wood. Given the variation of humidity in the average house, boards wider than 8″ can develop unacceptable spaces in the winter or cup in the summer. Quartersawn lumber expands and contracts about half as much as a flatsawn board of the same species, but is not usually available in wider widths.

Plank flooring over a 5″ face cannot be nailed through the tongue. The best solution is to screw and plug the floor. Other possible approaches include gluing with a specially formulated wood floor adhesive, or nailing through the face with decorative or period nails. Consulting with a professional floor installation specialist is always the best idea when dealing with wide plank flooring.