Installing Hard Wood Floors

There are several steps to installing hard wood floors. To help you understand the process we will explain what is needed to installing hard wood floors, but many find it is a job that is best left to a professional. That doesn't mean installing a wood floor yourself is completely out of the question. Knowing the process will help you decide if this is a do it yourself project or if you should call an expert.

Laminate wood floor installation is easier than a solid hard wood floor install in the sense the product is already finished. Once the floor is in, you are done. With unfinished floors, you are only half way there. That said, it is not as simple as one might think. You will still have many of the concerns that are outlined below.

Before you even begin installing hard wood floors, it's important to let the wood acclimate to your home or business. Wood is a natural product. It will expand with heat and contract when it's cold. When the humidity in your home changes, the wood will also expand and contract accordingly. By leaving the wood in the room you are going to install it in for a week to ten days, it acclimates to its environment and you have fewer problems with the wood moving and cracks developing between the boards later. Keeping your home at a consistent temperature and humidity helps keep the floor from moving with the changing seasons.

After making sure you have a sound subfloor that is flat and even and have laid out rosin paper to act as a moisture barrier and cut down on squeaks, it is a good idea to rack out a few rows without nailing or gluing them in. Laying out wood floors before you start installing them will help you get a sense of how the pieces will fit together and how the end product will look.

A laminate hard wood floor can be nailed down, glued in, or some hardwood flooring manufacturers make what's called a floating floor. To install floating wood floors, follow the manufactures instructions to the letter. An unfinished solid hard wood floor is always nailed in.

Whether your floor is glue down or nail in you will need the right product for your job. With laminate wood flooring installation, make sure you use the adhesive your specific manufacture recommends and follow their directions carefully. Nail down floors require a special nail gun and the correct nails or staples for the specific tool you are using.

Installing hard wood floors is not an easy task. Especially when we're talking about a solid hard wood floor, many find it is a job best left to the professionals. Lining up the wood floor so it is straight can be a difficult task, especially if you find your walls are not straight. When it comes to your walls, being off a minimal amount will not be visible to the naked eye, but when it comes to your floor, that marginal amount will add up as you move across the room. A flooring professional will know how to deal with this should the issue arise. They will also be able to quickly maneuver door jambs and unusual trim or wall configurations that could become puzzling and troublesome to someone who has never done it before.

Now that you know the steps for installing hard wood floors, you can make an informed decision as to whether this job is one you want to take on yourself of if you want to hire a professional.