Well maintained hardwood floors add a touch of eloquence and character to your home and can even raise the resale value of your home. This is because the warmth, charm and durability of hardwood floors are the preferred flooring choice of many people.
You can purchase hardwood in a couple of different varieties; prefinished or unfinished; depending on your preference. However, if you want to cut down on preparation time; the finished strips will eliminate the need for hardwood sanding as well as staining and varnishing them. However, if you want a custom color without the extra cost then the unfinished strips allow you to give your customized touch to your hardwood floors for less.
In order to complete hardwood flooring installation on your own you must have dexterity and plenty of patience; which is why many people choose to have their bamboo flooring, cork flooring, engineered hardwood flooring, parquet flooring and hardwood flooring installed by professional flooring installers. However, if you are experienced in this area then you can use this guide to help your hardwood installation.
1. Subfloor preparation
1.1 – You can install your hardwood flooring on either a concrete slab or a traditional joint and beam framework; whichever you prefer. However, you want to keep in mind that it is not recommended to install hardwood flooring in basements where it will be exposed to high levels of humidity.
1.2 – If you are going to be doing your hardwood installation on a wood framework then you will first need to screw ¾” sheets of plywood into the joists using flooring screws.
1.3 – If you choose hardwood flooring installation over a concrete slab then you need to make sure that the substrate is flat and smooth. If it is not already then you may need to level the surface before hardwood installation can start. Once you are sure the surface is level; you then need to create a subfloor using sheets of plywood.
1.4 – If working around doors, cut the base of each door frame so that you can insert the planks and removes the edging quarter rounds, thresholds and baseboards.
2. Time for the Felt Paper
2.1 – Using a Staple gun secure the non-tarred felt paper to the already laid sub-flooring. Not only does this felt underlayment help to reduce noise, it also creates a moisture barrier too.
2.2 – Now you will need to determine the layout of the wood planks, if you have secured the subfloor through reinforcement as described above, you can choose the layout of your hardwood flooring. If not, then you want to place the planks at right angles.
3. Draw Our Your Hardwood Installation Guidelines
3.1 – When drawing out your guidelines make sure that the hardwood flooring planks follow the line of your walls, while you can cut each plank lengthwise, you need to ensure that they are not cut too thin or you may have trouble holding them securely in place.
3.2 – Now, you must determine the width of your last row or hardwood flooring planks. If after doing your calculations the width of the last line of wood planks is less than that which has been recommended by the manufacturer of the hardwood flooring planks you have chosen; adjust your current measurements to reduce the width of the last row so that it meets the specifications of the manufacturer.
3.3 – Make sure the walls are straight before you begin laying your hardwood flooring planks. If not, then you will need to cut the first row of flooring planks lengthwise to that they match up to the wall line; this way each subsequent row will be perfectly lined up.
3.4 – Now, measure the width of one of the hardwood flooring planks and add an additional ¾” to account for future expansion.
3.5 – Use the measurement from step 3.4 and a chalk line to mark the distance from the starting wall. Measure twice cut once by ensuring that this line is perfectly square.
3.6 – Go through the planks and determine which ones you want to use first. Choose the straightest most planks for the first row to make the hardwood installation easier.
4. Start Laying the Planks
4.1 – The very first plank should be laid at the guideline with the grooves of the hardwood flooring plank facing the wall.
4.2 – If you need to further cut the first plank lengthwise, use the wall line as a guide to scribe onto the plank using a pencil to trace the profile onto the plank before cutting.
4.3 – Use the Cutting line as a guide and cut the hardwood flooring plank lengthwise as required.
4.4 – Now, measure the second plank and if needed cut lengthwise.
4.5 – Use shims or spacer blocks in order to ensure that a ¾” gap remains between the edge of the hardwood flooring planks and the edge of the wall.
4.6 – Leave an additional gap of ¼” at the end of each row of planks.
4.7 – Begin laying the second row of hardwood flooring planks.
5. Begin Nailing
5.1 – Make sure that the first row of hardwood flooring planks is facing the wall and then nail them into place by hand.
5.2 – To complete step 5.1 you will need to create 1/16” holes into the planks at a 450 degree angle ensuring that these holes are at least ½” from the edge.
5.3 – Make sure that each hole is paced at around 6” from the previous hole.
5.4 – Make sure that the first hardwood flooring plank is aligned with the guide line before placing the first nail.
5.5 – Ensure that each nail is properly sank using a nail set.
6. Finish Nailing the Rows of Hardwood Flooring Planks
6.1 – Use a pneumatic nailer to secure the rest of the rows of hardwood flooring planks.
6.2 – Make sure that all nails are spaced at 6” from each other.
6.3 – Keep all nails at least 2” from the edge of the hardwood flooring planks to ensure that the wood does not split.
6.4 – Alternate the lengths of the planks when laying them and make sure that the joints are staggered at 6” to 8”.
6.5 – If necessary, when laying the last row of hardwood flooring planks cut them lengthwise leaving a ¾” expansion gap.
6.6 – Nail the last row of hardwood flooring planks by hand just as you did the first row.
7. Reinstall the Door Thresholds, Baseboards & Quarter Round Molding
7.1 – Bring the door thresholds, baseboards and quarter round molding back into the room where you have completed hardwood installation.
7.2 – Remove the spacers you have used to ensure that a ¾” gap was left for expansion.
7.3 – Replace door thresholds.
7.4 – Replace baseboards and molding ensuring that they are attached to the wall and not your new hardwood flooring.
We hope this guide will help you with your hardwood flooring installation project and please know that you can always call us at 416-433-2323 to get a professional consultation today!
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