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End Joint Spacing in Random Length Strip and Finger Jointed Strip Floors

End joints are the locations on a random length or finger-jointed strip wood floor where two pieces of flooring are joined together end to end by a single tongue and groove. Segment joints are the locations on a finger-jointed wood strip floor where two pieces of flooring are joined together end to end by a finger-joint. End joint spacing serves a very important structural function in athletic flooring systems that have non-continuous subfloor designs. Examples of such designs are "Sleeper" and "Fixed Sleeper" flooring systems without continuous subfloors. When end joints are installed closely together in adjoining rows, such concentrations of end joints can create weak spots in the system construction. MFMA recommends maintaining a minimum of 4 inches between end joints in adjoining rows when non-continuous subfloor designs are specified for athletic flooring installations.

End joint spacing does not serve a significant structural function in athletic flooring systems with continuous subfloor designs. However, proper spacing of end joints in adjoining rows of a maple athletic flooring system is important in order to maintain consistent performance characteristics across the playing surface. For this reason, MFMA also recommends maintaining the traditional minimum of 4 inches between end joints in adjoining rows when continuous subfloor designs are specified for athletic flooring installations.

Given the above recommendations, MFMA acknowledges that even the most conscientious installer may occasionally install flooring strips with end joints spaced less than 4 inches in adjoining rows on a typical flooring installation. Such occasional installation is by itself not a valid reason for rejection of an athletic flooring surface.

Recommendations in this MFMA position statement do not apply to installations consisting of MFMA Parquet (MFMA-PQ) flooring as the surface material.

If you have additional questions, please contact MFMA's Technical Director at 847480-9138.

Rev. February 2005

© Copyright 2005

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