Installing Hardwood Floors the Easy Way
Hardwood floors make an excellent addition to any room. Hardwood floors are beautiful, durable and can increase the value of your home. Installing hardwood floors is the perfect weekend project for the skilled homeowner or even an ambitious first timer. These tips can help you transform your space from ordinary to extraordinary in a matter of days.
Buy Finished Boards The easiest hardwood flooring to install is pre-finished. When you purchase finished flooring you will not have to worry about applying any finish or scratch resistant coating on your floor panels as they are finished and ready to be installed immediately. This will make the process move along more quickly and give you one less thing to worry about. You can find pre- finished hardwood flooring in every style and finish.
Prepare Your Subfloor Hardwood floors are commonly installed over existing hardwood flooring, concrete or plywood subfloors. It is so important to prepare your subfloor correctly because you will bond your finished hardwood panels to the subfloor. If the subfloor is not prepared appropriately you risk improper installation and the chance of your floor lifting in the future. Most importantly, the subflooring needs to be clean, even and level. Fill in any holes, gaps or spacing in the floor. Plywood and existing hardwood will need to be sanded and smoothed. Concrete subflooring needs to have a moisture control barrier applied. Correctly preparing your subfloor is one of the most important steps when installing hardwood floors.
Choose Your Installation Method Hardwood flooring can be installed many ways. One option is to use an industrial strength glues designed specifically for hardwood. You also can purchase boards with adhesive strips already applied to the back. The most commonly used method is nailing or stapling boards to the floor. If you choose to use the nail method you will need to rent or purchase an electric nailer or use a large hammer.
Test it Out Once your subfloor is prepared you will be closer to a perfect installation of your beautiful new flooring. The most challenging part of the installation process is arranging the boards properly. Typically, hardwood boards will come in a variety of sizes and lengths. Rather than get halfway through installing the floor and finding out the configuration you started with will not work, test out the fit of the flooring in sections before you permanently install them. This step will save you time and energy! Once you are certain your boards fit you will be able to space and install your floor!
Installing hardwood floors can be easy as long as you are prepared! As with any home improvement project all you need is a little knowledge and planning to start the process. Gather your tools and materials and get started. Within a matter of days you will be able to change the entire look and feel of your home. Your friends and family will be shocked when you reveal your beautiful, new hardwoods that you installed on your own.
