The flooring is the infrastructure of every layout, flooring needs to be of such a structure that gives an alluring look and can withstand wear and tear. As we all know flooring provides a walking structure and should be of such quality that it does not produce any noise or sound. The flooring should be heat resistant, and free from dampness.
The wood flooring possesses all the above-mentioned qualities, The Solid hardwood flooring is famous in apartments and houses with forgiving style, warmth, and a pleasing look to your space. It adds value to your house and offers such elegance which no other flooring can give.
Before you start anything, determine the installation pattern of the wooden flooring you will be doing as there are now various types of wood flooring and all employ different ways of installation. Such hardwood is nailed or stapled whereas the engineered hardwood is glued down.
To prevent any type of movement of your flooring later you should first acclimate the wood to the environment and humidity of your room by leaving the boxes open and above ground for several days also if you can then control the humidity of your house in the range of 35 to 55 percent.
First, you should gather all your required tools, accessories, and equipment in one room. Also, always order 10 to 15% more wood than required and make sure the subfloor is clean, dry, even, and void of any previous flooring. You can install it on your previous flooring as well but follow the manufacturer’s advice on that.
- Measure your room, width, and length and multiply them to get the square feet value.
- Prepare your subfloor with 3/4” plywood; remove squeaks by a long drywall screw.
- A staple vapor barrier (tar or felt) to the subfloor with a 4” overlap.
- Mark the position of the joists on the baseboards
- Make lines with chalk about 3/8” from the baseboard for wood expansion or contraction.
- Start with a long straight board, align it with the chalk line and make pilot holes.
- Face nail the first row with random length boards at least 6” sitting perpendicular to the subfloor joists.
- Make pilot holes into the tongue of the installed boards to make space for the pneumatic nail gun. Place the gun lip on the edge and drive the staple in with a mallet.
- Make sure the boards are attached and are end-matched. Drill at least two nails in all boards at 10 to 12 inches.
- In case of a narrow gap on the last board, cut the board from a long side to fit.
- Place the shoe molding back and fill the nail holes with wood putty.
- When done, “trace and cut contours and fix according to the guide.
When you have installed the rows, remove the spacers, and attach trim and moldings.
Installing wooden flooring is best left to professionals because it is a one-time investment and should be done the correct way but if you wish to do it yourself then you should follow the manufacturer’s guide and we also recommend watching a few tutorials as well to better understand the process.
