End matching

[jim king]

A simple question and maybe a BIT ignorant.  With all flooring on the market being T&G and nailed to a subfloor is it really necessary  to end match the boards ?  Or is this a habit that is with us forever  ?

[Tom]

For people who are just creating a wear surface, end matching is supposed to make installation easier and faster.  For people who consider end matching to be matching the grain on the previous board, End Matching gets in the way.

I like simple questions.  I'll answer simply, "No".  :D

I get into these same kinds of arguments with people who think that Quartersawn is the only "good" lumber.

[tyb525]

From personal experience and others on this forum, I'd say it isn't necessary.

[red oaks lumber]

all the floor we sell it's end matched. the customers wood we don't always endmatch just depends if they want to spend the extra money. have i answered any questions yet?  no i don't feel that from a structual standpoint it needs endmatching however, if its wider than 6" i would. the nice thing about endmatching your end cuts will always be dead on square, and once you start laying the floor all the defecting the bad spots is already done leaving almost no mess on the job site

[woodman58]

I am a hardwood floor installer. I have done 1000's of floors. All floors for residential use are end matched. But, I have installed many gym floors. None of them are end matched. Just cut square. So, to answer your question, they don't have to be end matched.

Added: The only exception would be on wide boards. They will cup. Gyms are only 2 and 1/4" wide.

[Larry]

Just my thoughts.  End matching started way back when.  I'm thinking the purpose was to keep floor ends smooth and level.  Without end matching one board could cup up while the next board cups down...an extreme example yes.

With kiln dried hardwood installed in climate controlled housing, and narrow strip flooring, I think the chance of cup is nil.  End matching a needless expense.

Wide flooring installed where the heating is by combustion and cooling by open windows I think end matching is a necessity.

I don't have or intend on buying a end matcher, but I have used biscuits when I thought needed.

[woodyone.john]

end matching can turn lower grade  unpruned top logs into premium flooring. if you go to the trouble of quarter sawing [or sawing for verticle grain,the more stable hardwood option] sawing out the defects ,there is money to be made.

[tyb525]

The same thing can be done with a mitersaw, or a jump saw, without end matching, at less cost.

[oakiemac]

As Red Oaks said, end matching makes it easier to install with less work at the job site. Some customers want it and others don't but I have started to end match everything because it gives it a classier more professional look and most people expect it when they look at flooring.