July 28, 2010

How to Install Hardwood Flooring Without the Stress

Before learning how to install hardwood flooring, you need to choose the flooring. You have many options when it comes to hardwood flooring. Some of it can be installed the old-fashioned way, and some of it just snaps in place.

If you decide to use laminates or snap-together hardwoods, you'll find that the kits come with their own instructions. However, traditional hardwood flooring is more involved. Here are some steps to help get you started.

First, you need to put down a flooring base. The subfloor needs to be level, dry, and clean. Remove the baseboards before you begin.

You want the wood to get acclimated to your house first, so whether you pick up the flooring yourself or have it delivered, time it so that it all gets stacked somewhere in your house for a few days or so. Unless you let the wood adjust to your home environment, it won't fit properly. This is because wood reacts to different humidity levels and temperatures by expanding and contracting.

While you're figuring out how to install hardwood flooring, determine which direction the floor joists/supports run. Once you do that, mark the position at the base of the walls so you have a handy reference. Obtain some 15-pound asphalt felt and put down a layer on top of the subfloor.

This does a few things for you: It protects the flooring from moisture and minimizes squeaking and creaking. If you're installing the hardwood floor in your bathroom or kitchen, this step is especially important.

Mark the centerline of your room to indicate the position for the first board. As you install the flooring, be sure to leave a gap of 1/2 inches at the walls.

Make sure to use a nail set to finish each nail you put in by hand, so the hammer doesn't leave indentations. To prevent shifting, be sure to nail the first three boards or so by hand. You should do this even if you're using a pneumatic flooring nailer.

Learning how to install hardwood flooring isn't all that difficult. However, it takes time and requires precision.