Another advantage of scarfing as you build is that you can do the shaping of each end of a strip then mate the scarf in the middle somewhere. One of the tricker chores is getting a nice pointed end on each end of one strip to fit snug. If you strip a front piece. Then place the scarfs together and put pencil marks along an adjacent strip - then finish the end of the second piece making sure the pencil marks line up. Work long and fine tune the end to make the scarfs meet. It's tough to cut a matching scarf once the ends are finished and you're shooting for that ideal length for the scarf to match.

On the other hand... Scarfs dont run a fair bend like a continuous strip can achieve. Try to scarf on straight runs. or the next strip will have a slight misfit where it mates to the slightly angled scarf.

I scarf on a Radial Arm saw. I made a jig that holds the strip on edge at about a 7 to one. I can scarf 4 or 5 pieces at once. You can do the same with a table saw or chop saw. Be cautious about wood color match. Wet the peices with a sponge first to check color. Wood color can change dramatically on one strip and stick out like a sore thumb like one scarf on the deck I'm doing now.