What is Overwood?

Q:  I’ve heard the term “overwood” in the context of wood flooring installation and wonder what the heck it is?  So…?

A:  Overwood refers to the difference in thickness between two adjoining butted pieces of wood floorboards.  Now, keep in mind that we’re not talking about huge differences in thickness; just a few millimeters.  But still enough to make for a less-than-perfect floor installation.

Why butted joints only?  Because side-to-side, tongue-and-groove pieces probably won’t be able to fit together.  Only butted pieces (i.e., non tongue and groove) can adjoin this way.

Let’s put it this way–it’s overwood if it doesn’t reach out and slap you in the face.  It’s something you have to look carefully for.  That’s why it’s even worth marking it out with blue painter’s tape so that you can later correct the overwood “issue.”

So, how do you correct overwood?

Easy if you’ve got unfinished wood flooring.  Run the sander over the higher floorboards–very lightly–and remain clear of the lower pieces.  Then seal as usual.

With pre-finished wood flooring, you’re obviously not going to be sanding the surface.  You need to think ahead, and plane down or sand down the bottom of pre-finished overwood pieces.