My first floor is shaped like a capital "H" and I want to have the boards run horizontally. So from what I understand (as a DIY) you nail the first boards at one side and run from there. In the case of the H, I have two rooms that jut past the big area in middle, so how do I match the wood to have a continuous length across the whole house?

Ok so I figured out I can use a stringer to do this. In case someone else sees this post, a stringer is like a tongue that you place inside the groove so the board(s) have a tongue on both sides. Thus way you can reverse/flip the next row of boards and continue onward.

Also called a spline...quick video too

http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/instal ... ection.htm

Ken thanks. Yes a spline. Got mixed up on the terminology there. So, a little more info on my flooring:

5" wide white oak 3/4 thick
40% material is 7-12' length
60% material is random length 1-6'
rift and quartered cut
Chicago IL area
Relative humitidy in the home is 27% and stable
wood has acclimated 2-1/2 weeks
20mil vapor barrier under the basement slab
2" XPS under the basement slab
Truflor 3/4 subfloor
14" BCI engineered joists 16 ioc

I was thinking to use staples, putting a staple into each joist and one in between the joists. I was going to leave about 1/2" expansion gap figuring since the wood is R/Q it won't expand width/length-wise but rather in vertical thickness. I was considering cutting out the drywall around the floor to slide the floor even with it so it can expand under the drywall. I plan to install next week before cabinets, etc.

Should I use staples or cleats for this application?
Is the expansion gap I am planning enough?

I appreciate any help/input. thanks.

I recommend using cleats.

I recently installed a rift and quartered white oak floor and noticed the staples had a tendency to split the tongue. I immediately switched to cleats and no longer had this problem.

What gauge cleat? I see 18 and 16 at the store...

I have 16 gauge nail gun. I don't know the pros and cons of the different gauges except 18 gauge can be preferable with certain exotics.

ok thanks. I'd appreciate any other comments as well. Do I need to fasten AND glue the floor? Chicago IL area, super tight home with HRV and 1-1/2 inch exterior rigid insulation as well under furring strips holding the siding. The interior is quite controlled. All baths have exhaust ducts going down to basement into the HRV unit to clean, exchange and dehumidify the air.