Tongue or Groove? Which to Install First
When you purchase flooring for your home, there are various options from which you can choose. Some of these options come in planks and some in sheets. It depends on the flooring you are looking to have. Tongue and groove vinyl flooring has a tongue on one side that protrudes and a receiving groove side that is indented. Each board can slide into place because the tongue will slide into the groove. This provides a simple vertical movement so you can slide your floorboards together and into place when it comes to installation.
Which side goes when it comes to installation? The tongue is the side you should place against the wall as you begin the installation process. If you mix up the two and start with the groove side, you will start to experience difficulties completing the installation because you will basically be installing the flooring backward.
Advantages of Tongue and Groove Flooring
There are numerous benefits of a tongue and groove floor! When you use the sliding boards together, there is less chance of you spending more money on other installation materials such as adhesive or a nail gun. You will also save time because you will no longer have to staple each board together when performing the installation. Another good advantage that homeowners like is that tongue and groove flooring is pretty airtight, which means you do not have to worry about moisture seeping in. This is helpful when you are choosing this type of flooring in high moisture rooms such as kitchens or bathrooms.
Disadvantages of Tongue and Groove Flooring
Although some homeowners state that tongue and groove flooring installation is relatively easy, there are always a few exceptions. Sometimes it is difficult to slide the tongue and groove together. If you are having such issues, then we at T.G. Installations suggest you use a soft face mallet and gently tap the boards, as this helps them slide together. Another minor issue is taking the floorboards apart can be hard. However, this will not be an issue if you decide to keep the same flooring for a long period of time.
For information pertaining to the tongue and groove vinyl flooring services that we can offer, please do not hesitate to dial this number (405) 451-2574 now! We are based in the Norman, OK area.