How to install hardwood floor at home by yourself?

Hardwood flooring installation is easy but time-consuming and energy consuming task. If you are planning to renovate the flooring of your homes, you can easily install the hardwood by yourself, all you need is below tips:

Richmond Interior Design

1. Uninstalling old floor and remove the doors:

It is up to you that you want to install hardwood on the existing floor or you want to uninstall the existing floor first and then go for new installation. However, first make sure that the use and conditions of the room won’t have a negative impact on the flooring during installation. The benefit of former is you will be relieved from messy job and disadvantage is it will raise the level of your floor making it weird.

2. Preparing subfloors:

The wood floorings are generally raised with wood framed sub floor surfaced with plywood. The sub floors need to be clean, dry, and flat at the proper level, squeak-free and clear of bumps. You can check all the deviations with the help of straight board and carpenter’s level. Cover the ground with 6-mil black polyethene, overlap the sheets and then tap them together.

3. Concrete slab:

The wood floor can be installed on concrete floor if it is at-least 2 months old and moisture tested by the professionals. The slab must be flat, without high or low spots. And it must have a trowel finish that is clean.

4. Preparations before hardwood flooring materials are delivered:

You and your home should be prepared for hardwood flooring before all the material is delivered to your house. The wood flooring is one of the last installations during a remodel. To avoid physical damage to the surface, be sure it is done after all construction and completed installation of any fixtures and appliances that will not sit on top of it.

5. Heat and Humidity factor:

The wood flooring gives in easily to moisture and humidity, especially solid hardwood. Make sure the hardwood adjusts to the humidity of your house to prevent expansion of the wood or contraction. It could be the spoiler of the job. You have to remove all the packaging and stack it for several days in the room where it will be installed. Do not store it in the garage or an exterior patio. All plastering, concrete work, drywall, texturing, and painting of primer coats should be finished and dry to avoid introducing excessive moisture into the air.

6. Layout planning:

The direction of joists matters because it supports the flooring and also plans the installation accordingly perpendicular to them. Learn to install the hardwood from the YouTube videos or research about it on net. It will help you out with the planning. If it doesn’t work out, contact Costen flooring for the expert installation of hardwood floors.

7. Cutting floor:

To rip the floor into your desired size, mark the points and use the power saw that has fence such as job saw or table saw. Be sure all end cuts are precisely square. For making curved or irregular cuts, you can use a portable sabre saw (jigsaw). The blade on this type of tool cut on the upstroke, often splintering the top surface.

8. Laying the first row:

You have to specially take care while laying the first row. For the first three rows choose straight boards. The board should vary in length by 6 inches. Use a measuring tape to measure from the guideline to the board’s edge to double-check that it is the same distance at both ends. For second and third, where you can fit the flooring nailer in place, you’ll have to do this blind-nailing by hand with a drill, hammer, and nail set.

9. Completing the installation:

During the time of finishing the installation dry fit five or six rows of flooring, sorting and positioning the boards for a pleasing pattern and appearance. At the end of each row, cut boards to fit as it is smart to pull flooring from several different packages or boxes to mix up any variations in wood color and grain.

Important tip: Floor sanding is incredibly dusty work, and a drum sander can leave visible marks and ridges on the floor. If you are not experienced at this job, strongly consider Costen Floors, Inc. for the job as they are the best in Virginia.

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Costen Flooring is a one stop high-quality flooring provider. — https://www.costenfloors.com

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