How do I lay floorboards onto joists?

If you are going to lay floorboards directly over joists there are a few things you need to know before you start the project. Careful planning will allow your project to turn out well with no waste of expensive wood flooring.

Floorboards should always be laid perpendicular to the floor joists. Start at the long end of the room, and move outward from the wall, leaving a 1/4 to 1/2 inch gap between the wall and the first board all the way across the room.
The floorboards should be laid directly onto the joists, and they should be nailed or screwed down securely for the best durability. There should be two nails or screws at each end of each board.