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Sorry Iowanian, I have been framing my basement this morning.
Anyway, here is how to start a wood floor the easy way:
1. Measure for square-ness of the walls every 5 feet PERPENDICULAR to how you are going to run the wood. Take note of differences. Most cookie cutter house walls bow slightly inward in each corner, so don't measure near the corners. Be careful not to measure under sheetrock at one spot and not in another.
2. Run a starter row of wood flooring using VERY straight pieces along the wall tounge facing out. Do not eyeball them, use a straight edge to determine the right boards. I prefer the longest pieces I can find in each bundle. DO NOT NAIL YET!
3. Once you have laid out your first row, measure from the opposite wal to the edge of each board and generally lay them out so that they are as close to possible to being the same distance away. Be sure to leave a space between the wall and your floor that is a little smaller then the depth of baseboard.
4. Get your finish nailer and face nail the first board. Measure each end to assure that it is still square with the OPPOSITE wall. Take your long straight edge and place it against the nailed board and the next board in line. Straighten them up and nail the next board. Measure opposite wall to assure that your starter line is still straight.
5. Take straight edge and line up the rest of the wood until it meets the wall. Do not nail the wood until you know you are square all the way down the opposite wall. Take a lazer light or lay down and check to see how straight your first row line is. If it looks good, finish nail every 12" or so until finished.
6. Gentally tap the next row against the starter row while holding the starter straight with a flat bar pressed firmly against the wall. You can finish nail this row at a 45 angle above the toungue, but be careful not to shift your starter row.
7. Repeat until you are on your 4th row, than hammer away with the floor stapler/nailer every 8 inches, and within 2 inches of each end. Be sure to stagger joints no less than the width of the wood from each other. I prefer at least 6 inches myself, but use your own judgement.
8. Profit!
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