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Wasn’t sure if this question was better here or at FHB? Intend to mill and lay 2000 SF, 4″-9″ wide, 7/8″ thick air dried ash plank flooring in our home. I’ve been told that I should cut “stress relief grooves” on the back face of flooring.
Some say 1/8″ deep grooves with tablesaw @ 1″ c-c on back face should be used to reduce cupping. Tried this with 9″ wide stock and didn’t find any significant differences with 6-10% swings in MC. Others have told me that wider, shallow grooves like in commercial flooring help floor lay flatter. I’ll sand the floor anyway. So, is there another good reason, or are these “stress relief grooves just a waste of time? Thanks in advance for your time and comments!
BCK
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I think that FHB would be a better place to find out what you are looking for. As for my two cents I have been told it let the board sit flat on the subfloor. But I have also heard that it helps prevent cupping. But on 2 1/2" boards I don't see cupping being to big of a problem. But with your case, I would groove them just for the safety factor.
Scott
*I have 10" yellow pine flooring throughout my house. It was purchased from a local lumberyard as flooring material. Ninety five percent had the stress relief cut about 2-1/4 inches apart. Some didn't have it. I have some boards that cup in the humid summer weather. I would bet they don't have the stress relief. I would play it safe. Make the cuts.
*bckelly, I see too many old floors that are perfectly flat without grooves to believe that you absolutely need to do that. On the other hand, I don't believe that they would harm and they could possibly help. The flooring that is going upstairs that I'm gonna face screw and plug won't have it done but the really wide (up to 22 inches) planks downstairs where I'll screw up from below will have the relief's milled into them.
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