Tips On Installing A Hardwood Floor

You will want to make sure the sub floor that is floor that will under the hardwood is in good condition. You should do any repairs that may be necessary to make sure you get the best finished product. You will want to make sure to take care of any unnecessary squeaking, cracks and dips in flooring that is present. You will want to make sure to purchase enough flooring to do the entire room and maybe some extra just in case you have some kind of slip up. You can never be to careful! When installing over the existing floor you will want to make sure to use plywood to between the new flooring and the old flooring. That will ensure that the flooring will be less prone to cracks and joints separating and stronger stiffer floor.

After getting that part of the floor installation done you will want to make sure to get product that can cut dome on moisture and control dust. This can be purchased along with your hardwood flooring at your local store. Usually polythene sheeting is used before installing the floors.

When starting on installing the floors you will want to start from the middle and work your way the walls. That is what should be considered your baseline and should help make for and even floor. You will also want to remove the molding and any type of floor skirting that may be present to make sure that you do not end up with a floor that is not parallel to the walls and completely flushed. When starting to lay the flooring you will want to make sure use long pieces for the first two rows just make sure that everything is flushed which basically means that is fitting together appropriately.

There is certain nailing techniques that you may want to use when nailing strip and plank flooring. You should know that nailing should at least be in 6 to 8 inch spaces. Most places will recommend using a portanailer. Wood flooring can also expand across its width to the grain direction. You will also want to remember that the bigger and wider the board is the more it is going to end up expanding.

There are so many different types of grades of flooring that you can purchase now days. When purchasing the wood you will want to purchase the best wood possible. That way you will not have to worry about knots that can be found in lower graded timber and surface defects of some kind. When installing a hardwood floor you mind it fitting to purchase wedges to make some parts of the floors seem more fitted.

It is always smarter to have a moisture meter on hand to measure the sub floor moisture levels. Making sure to keep moisture levels at a very low reading will make for a better hardwood floor. Concrete slabs are usually the ones to hold to hold the most moisture and can take quite a while to dry. It is smarter to use a polythene. Solid hardwood flooring can be put on concrete slabs using a special adhesive. This can also be purchased when buying your supplies for installing your floors.

There are tons of reliable books, magazines, and of course hardware stores that can give you lots of guidance and help when it comes to installing any type type of hardwood flooring that you may choose. You can also look through the Internet and find tons of companies and people that would help you in anyway possible. Some of the hardwood flooring that can be purchased now days comes with the installation instructions especially if you are buying a kit like you from Lowe's or Home Depot.


Hardwood flooring can be very beautiful when installed right. It can be one of the most costly flooring that you can lay but in the one of the most beautiful ones. When done right these types of floors can last for a very long time and most of them require little maintenance. There are special cleaning agents and protectives that you can buy for your flooring, that can be purchased when buying your supplies.