Installing Hardwood Flooring
Installing hardwood flooring is as much an act of skill as it is of love. This is some of the most beautiful and versatile flooring available anywhere, and it can absolutely change the landscape and look of your entire home. Hardwood floors can last for incredibly long times, and can actually raise the overall value of your home. This is one reason why it’s so important that it be made of only the highest quality materials, and installed right. Unless you have a great deal of experience choosing and installing hardwood floors; then you’re definitely going to need the help of a trusted professional. You can look at local stores, or expand your search to include some of the best retailers on the internet.
Make sure that you take the time to consider exactly what you want. Hardwood floors can come in a huge variety of different styles, finishes, and patterns. This means that you can definitely find something that you’ll love looking at for years to come. You can find finishes that range from the rich honey-colored looks that we generally associate with hardwood flooring, or even a distressed look that creates a more vintage feel. You can take samples of what you like, and lay it out in the room that it’s intended for. This can give you an idea of what the finished product will look like.
Many retailers will also have a team ready to install your chosen flooring. They will understand the necessity of doing an excellent job, and they’ll provide you with a quality product. With good flooring, you’ll get what you pay for- but this doesn’t mean that it has to cost a fortune. Shop around for the best prices on wood flooring supplies, and call several different companies before making a final decision. Once you’ve chosen your flooring, the installation can begin. The process can change with different circumstances, but these are the basics of hardwood floor installation:
Inspect the Subfloor
In order for your hardwood floor to be installed correctly, you need to make sure that the subfloor is as level as possible. The installation team will sand down any bumps or imperfections in the plywood before they lay the first wooden plank.
Laying Down Planks
Many hardwood flooring systems have a tongue and groove edge that allows the pieces of the floor to fit together seamlessly. You want to put the straightest pieces of flooring against the wall, and make sure to check for any gaps. Professionals will know how to fill these gaps along the wall in ways that you won’t notice when it’s completed. It’s also important to pre-drill nail holes in the planks to prevent any splitting or damage when the floor is nailed down. There are other tools that will help to seal everything into place, but the nails are extremely important. Generally, the installation will require a pneumatic nail gun. There are some spots that might require the use of a hammer and good old elbow grease. These nail holes will sometimes be filled with putty to cover them and to prevent future snagging.
Adding Planks
Installation experts will you a mallet or a device to secure the tongue and groove sections of the flooring together tightly. They need to make sure that this is a permanent bond, and that everything is flush. They will continue to use the pneumatic nail gun where appropriate.
Finishing the Floor
The last set of planks will need to be carefully measured and cut to fit the remaining space. These will need to fit tightly against the wall, and may require manual nailing. Clean up, and enjoy!
