Tongue and groove is a method of fitting similar objects together, edge to edge, used mainly with

wood Wood is a structural tissue/material found as xylem in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulosic fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin t ...

, in

flooring Flooring is the general term for a permanent covering of a floor, or for the work of installing such a floor covering. Floor covering is a term to generically describe any finish material applied over a floor structure to provide a walking surface. ...

parquetry Parquet (; French for "a small compartment") is a geometric mosaic of wood pieces used for decorative effect in flooring. Parquet patterns are often entirely geometrical and angular—squares, triangles, Lozenge (shape), lozenges—but may co ...

panelling Panelling (or paneling in the United States) is a millwork wall covering constructed from rigid or semi-rigid components. These are traditionally interlocking wood, but could be plastic or other materials. Panelling was developed in antiquity ...

, and similar constructions. A strong joint, it allows two flat pieces to be joined strongly together to make a single flat surface. Before

plywood Plywood is a composite material manufactured from thin layers, or "plies", of wood veneer that have been stacked and glued together. It is an engineered wood from the family of manufactured boards, which include plywood, medium-density fibreboa ...

became common, tongue-and-groove boards were also used for sheathing buildings and to construct

concrete Concrete is a composite material composed of aggregate bound together with a fluid cement that cures to a solid over time. It is the second-most-used substance (after water), the most–widely used building material, and the most-manufactur ...

formwork Formwork is Molding (process), molds into which concrete or similar materials are either precast concrete, precast or cast-in-place concrete, cast-in-place. In the context of concrete construction, the falsework supports the shuttering mold ...

. Each piece has a slot (the ''

groove Groove or Grooves may refer to: Music * Groove (music) * Groove (drumming) * The Groove (band), an Australian rock/pop band of the 1960s * The Groove (Sirius XM), a US radio station * Groove 101.7FM, a former Perth, Australia, radio station ...

'' or '' dado'') cut all along one edge or along two adjacent edges, and a thin, deep ridge (the ''tongue'') on the opposite edge or edges. The tongue projects a little less than the depth of the groove. Two or more pieces thus fit together closely. The

joint A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw- ...

is not normally glued, as shrinkage would then pull the tongue off. The effect of wood shrinkage is concealed when the joint is beaded or otherwise moulded. In another assembly method, the pieces are end-matched. This method eliminates the need for

mitre joint A miter joint (mitre in British English) is a joint made by cutting each of two parts to be joined, across the main surface, usually at a 45° angle, to form a corner, usually to form a 90° angle, though it can comprise any angle greater than 0 ...

s, face nailing, and the use of joints on or centres of conventional framing. For joining thicker materials, several tongue-and-groove joints may be used one above the other. In fine

woodworking Woodworking is the skill of making items from wood, and includes cabinetry, furniture making, wood carving, joinery, carpentry, and woodturning. History Along with stone, clay and animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked b ...

such as

cabinet making A cabinet is a case or cupboard with shelves or drawers for storing or displaying items. Some cabinets are stand alone while others are built in to a wall or are attached to it like a medicine cabinet. Cabinets are typically made of wood (solid ...

, both glued

dovetail A dovetail joint or simply dovetail is a joinery technique most commonly used in woodworking joinery (carpentry), including furniture, cabinets, log buildings, and traditional timber framing. Noted for its resistance to being pulled apart, a ...

joints and tongue-and-groove joints are used. For many uses, tongue-and-groove boards have been rendered obsolete by the introduction of plywood and later

composite wood Engineered wood, also called mass timber, composite wood, man-made wood, or manufactured board, includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding or fixing the strands, particles, fibres, wood veneer, veneers, or boar ...

boards, but the method is still used in higher-quality boards. Plywood may also be tongued all round to fit flush into a framed structure, and plywood for sub-floors used in

platform framing Framing, in construction, is the fitting together of pieces to give a structure, particularly a building, support and shape. Framing materials are usually wood, engineered wood, or structural steel. The alternative to framed construction is ...

is often supplied with tongue-and-groove edges. In old sailor slang vernacular, a ''tonguin'' (pronounced ) refers to a small boat or raft of tongue-and-groove construction or to repairs made to such a craft.

Methods

One of the following woodworking tools may be used to produce the tongue and groove: * A

wood shaper Wood is a structural tissue/material found as xylem in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulosic fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin tha ...

(spindle moulder) – a four- or six-head moulder for large quantities * A

circular saw bench A table saw (also known as a sawbench or bench saw in England) is a woodworking tool, consisting of a circular saw blade, mounted on an arbor, that is driven by an electric motor (directly, by belt, by cable, or by gears). The drive mechanis ...

* Suitable hand planes: a plough plane for the groove and a tongue plane for the tongue, or a combination plane * A spindle router

Tongue in groove (Slip tongue and groove)

Tongue in groove is similar to tongue and groove, but instead of the tongue forming part of one of the edges, it is a separate, loose piece, called a ''slip tongue'' or ''spline'', that fits between two identically grooved edges. The tongue may or may not be of the same material as the grooved pieces joined by the tongue. For example, plywood flooring is commonly grooved at the edges, and plastic tongues are used to form the joint.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tongue And Groove Joinery Woodworking

Methods

Tongue in groove (Slip tongue and groove)

See also

References