Since hardwood floors are a rather sensitive and expensive material, most of us think that we should always seek the help of professionals to get them installed.
What’s comforting is knowing that if you have the right tools and the right kind of hardwood, then it is pretty much a do it yourself endeavor. And because prefinished hardwood floor planks are already available in hardware stores and instructional manuals everywhere, then you really have nothing to worry about.
Do you know how you can install hardwood flooring? First, decide whether you want to use oak, maple or cherry, or rustic ash. Oak is the most expensive kind of hardwood material, but it is reputably the best and the sturdiest. If you’re working under a particular budget, maple or rustic ash are also okay and will last as long as oak with proper care and maintenance.
The next step would involve preparing the following materials: the hardwood planks, a vapor barrier paper, a pry bar, a hammer, a speed drill and drill bits, a pneumatic flooring pack (which consists of a nail gun, staples, a mallet, a hose, and an air compressor), a staple gun, a tape measure, a chalk line, and, your how-to manual of course.
A smart move is to study the manual before you go about hammering away so you don’t waste time. Some hardware stores already have prepackaged hardwood installation necessities so you can avoid the hassle of looking for each piece. Of course, you shouldn’t forget your safety goggles and gloves, as all the drilling and hammering could produce wood dust and can be harmful when inhaled.
First, measure the surface where you are going to install them before you buy hardwood floor planks. Planks that are around 10 to 15 inches bigger are what you need to order to allow room for errors. While you should expect that your initial attempt will be very challenging, once you get that first plank in place, the rest should be a breeze.
If you want to get rid of squeaks, then tightly nail the hardwood plank into the subfloor. When you are cutting, you should always provide extra space. Try and go over and make the necessary adjustments than be left with a space that would look awkward to fill since this is the best thing to do when dealing with hardwood floors.
If you got a prefinished hardwood floor, then the job is done after you’ve installed the planks in place. But if what you bought is wood in its purest form, then you should also pre-equip yourself with sanding and finishing tools and prepare for another challenging task ahead.
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