- 1). Cover the whole floor with paper underlayment, laying it in slightly overlapping rows. Staple it down.
- 2). Snap a starting line with your chalk snap line along the longest unobstructed edge of the floor. The line should be 1/2-inch out from the wall.
- 3). Lay the first Mohawk red oak floor board on the starting line, beginning at one end, with the grooved edge facing the wall. Secure the board with a floor nail gun, shooting the nails straight down through the board face with nails every 10 inches along both edges.
- 4). Lock the second board off the end of the first, via the tongue and groove milling. Nail it down in the same manner. Repeat, laying boards end to end along the whole starting line. Mix up the different shades of boards as you lay them, so you're not connected any two of the same shade. Cut the last board on a miter saw as needed.
- 5). Set the second course of boards alongside the first, locking them together by their long edges. Nail them down through their sides (rather than the top), driving the nails at an inward angle so the nails will be hidden by the next course.
- 6). Repeat, working your way across the room course by course. Arrange the boards so the ends of them don't line up between courses. Step back after every few courses and make sure you're not grouping shades of color together, but are dispersing them.
- 7). Use a table saw to cut the boards of the last course length-wise, leaving 1/2-inch space at the far wall. The space will be hidden by floor trim.
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