We currently have 3/4" hardwood in our hall leading to carpeted bedrooms. When I lay the 3/4" hardwood in the bedrooms it will run the same direction as the hall floor. I have read that I should start at the outer (longest) wall and work in (toward the hall). My concern is that it may not line up perfectly at the doorway to the hall.

The options I think I have are:
1) begin at the outer wall trying to end parallel to the hall finishing with a cut piece and t-strip

2) start at the doorway and work out using a t-strip

3) remove the outermost hallway board that currently butts against the carpet and replace with an extra piece left over from the original install. If this is the grooved edge, use a spline to tie the new floor into the old one (without a t-strip) working toward the outside wall.

Both floors are different colors; gunstock & spice so not trying to match color. I’d prefer #3 but am open to suggestions and tips. Thanks!

#3

Yep, number 3.

If you have any of the hallway color left you may need to use a strip of that instead to take you all way underneath the shut door.

Sounds unanimous. #3 is it. I do have some boards left over from the original hallway install and will replace the board that butts up against the carpet.

What is the proper procedure for fastening the boards to the subfloor when attaching groove side to grove side with a spline? I'd prefer not to nail through the top of the board. Glue down with Liquid Nails and "hand nail" several nails through the grove? Glue and hold down with weight until it dries?

Glue the spline in, take a small scrap of flooring with the groove side, and place it like it would be the next board in the row, and using your flooring nailer, fasten the board thru the tongue you now made, just like it was any other piece of flooring. The scrap keeps you from bending down the spline, when you nail it, making it really hard if not impossible to get the next board in. Use the groove end scrap!!!

If I understand correctly, I take a piece of scrap wood and (I assume) remove the top half of the groove side. I then place the scrap piece under the glued in spline for support. That keeps the glued in spline parallel to the floor and allows me to nail through the tongue/spline as if it was a solid piece of wood. Right?