Having hardwood flooring in your home can change your living space. Because there are various types available, you can customize the installation to fit your style and décor. Before starting the installation process, there are some things you need to consider.
Different types of flooring may need different types of wood. Basketball flooring, for instance, may require harder wood than home flooring. If you’re not sure which wood to use in installation, you can contact your installer.
Here are the basic steps for hardwood installation:
- Assembling Tools and Materials
Different types of hardwood flooring may require different kinds of tools for installation. You’ll know the specific tools that you need when you read the instructions included in the flooring package. But some general tools that you may need include a hammer, drill and drill bits, pneumatic flooring nailer, nails, saw and pry bar.
- Determine the Right Procedure of Installation
It’s essential to know the procedure of installing the type of floor you’ve chosen. Installation methods are different and may depend on the thickness, width, construction of the hardwood product and the place of installation. Solid hardwood flooring is installed on a wood subfloor, while an engineered hardwood may be mechanically glued, fastened or installed as a floating floor.
If you’re a homeowner with a lot of DIY experience, glue or nail installation may be challenging for you. Hardwood flooring is an investment and needs know-how, time and precision. It would be best to hire an installer if you’re aren’t sure you can do the job right.
- Acclimate The Floor
Before installation, solid hardwood flooring needs to be acclimated to the climate of the room. You shouldn’t just arrive with it and start nailing it. Instead, place the packaged boards in their installation room, with the cartons open, and let them sit there for some days. Doing this is necessary to allow the moisture content of the wood to adapt to the room’s conditions. However, engineered flooring may not require acclimation though it’s still best to store it in its installation environment.
Also, it’s vital to keep the room’s relative humidity level at about 55%. This will help to minimize wood movement after flooring.
- Read Installation Instructions
Before beginning the installation process, it’s vital to read the installation instructions carefully. Watching a few installation videos may also help. Hardwoods need to be installed on a dry, clean, and flat subfloor.
If you intend to install your floor over an already existing floor, you need to make sure that the doors can still open, and appliances are compatible with countertops. Most floorings can be done over existing marble, tile or terrazzo based on the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Installation
During installation, you want to first start by rolling out the underlayment. It would help if you placed the floor pieces parallel to the longest wall beginning from the left side as you move to the right. As you do this, you need to include spacers in between the boards and walls to give room for expansion. Following the manufacturer’s direction will provide you with the appropriate installation method.
The Bottom-line
Hardwood floors can be a great choice of flooring to have in your living space. It enables you to select aavariety, and can be designed into different decors. If you opt to use it, however, you need to know how to install it. These few simple steps can help you with your installation.
