Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
PEGGED FLOORING
PEGGED FLOORING. Until the latter part of the 19th century, all wood plank floors were random widths. Random width flooring dates back to the days when hardwood flooring was made on the job site. The tongue and groove was planed by hand on a board with no preference to the width - just whatever it would make. (1)
In the past, some random width floors were installed using wooden pegs or plugs. A hole (or several holes in the case of a wide plank), was drilled about 1-1/2 to 2 inches from the end of the plank. A dowel was pounded into the floor joist and glued into place. Any excess dowel was cut and sanded flush with the floor. These plugs were often constructed of a contrasting wood and became a decorative feature of random width plank flooring. In later years, screws were countersunk and short dowels of walnut, other contrasting woods, or even brass were glued in to cover the screws for decorative purposes only. (2)
In the late 19th century and through the 20th century with improvements in mill-work technology, wood floors evolved to the standard strip floor of today. (3)
---
Source:
1. "Hardwood Flooring," Online: http://www.millcreekmouldings.com/random-plank-hardwood-flooring.php
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.