What is a Wood Spline?

What is a wood spline?

A wood spline or a 'slip tongue' is nothing more than a long, thin strip of wood that acts as a splice between two planks. It is the same thickness as the tongue of a wood plank. A spline fits into the groove of hardwood to enable installation in two directions, change in direction of layout or even intricate boarder work.

Installers can double their nailing efforts using spines, by creating a tongue in two directions, from the center of a room, effectively speeding up an installation by allowing two edges to be worked (nailed) at the same time.

Some installers create their own splines, but LL Flooring has splines available in various sizes in unfinished red oak hardwood:

5/8 in   wide x 4 ft Length Spline
7/16 in wide x 4 ft Length Spline
1/2 in   wide x 4 ft Length Spline
3/8 in   wide x 4 ft Length Spline
3/4 in   wide x 4 ft Length Spline

Larger room areas over 30 ft. benefit from added center expansion and this is achieved by starting the installation at the center of the room using splines.

As you can see in the image below the tongues now face both ways.

Splines should always be glued into place using a Tongue and Groove adhesive.

Do you have questions?
Chat or Call the Customer Care Team at 844-455-3566
Or find the closest showroom and visit: https://www.llflooring.com/stores/
LL Flooring experts would be glad to help.

LL Flooring Technical & Install