On Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:40:22 -0700, GMM wrote:
Looking for boards, however, almost everything
hardwood I can find seems to be a bit thin for actual floorboards and
seems more to be designed to go over an existing floor, whereupon it
would be pretty thick.

We're mostly on hardwood (Maple, I believe) at home - the (1-1/2" wide)
T+G hardwood strips are about 3/4" in height, laid over some sort of
cardboard-like material (maybe 1/16" thick), laid over the top of typical
rough floorboards (3/4" thick again).

The floorboards run at 45 degrees to the hardwood strips above (i.e.
diagonally across the rooms, with the hardwood strips parallel to the
longest wall) - maybe that helps absorb any distortion.

There's no sign that they ever sanded the floorboards down or anything to
make them level before putting the hardwood strips over the top; maybe the
cardboard layer's there to help absorb minor distortion (although more
likely there to stop critters getting in - I can't imagine it's any good
as insulation, sound-deadening, or as a damp barrier)

wondered if anyone here can tell me a better way

astroturf! :-)

cheers

Jules