02/15/2025
Have you ever considered investing in hardwood flooring for your home? Would you rather pay someone to install it, or would you prefer to install it yourself? Here are some important tips to remember and take into consideration.
The most important step to remember is to acclimate the wood flooring to the environment in which it's being installed. The acclimation time varies based on the person installing, but a good general idea is to allow it to acclimate for at least five days. This will help to control the new floors’ moisture content and help prevent buckling, cracking, and gaps from forming.
Prepare the subfloor by cleaning dust, staples (if carpet was installed before the redesign) and any other debris. If cleaning with water, ensure everything has dried before install. Sometimes the subfloor can be unlevel. Make sure all the nails are pounded down and the floor is levelled properly. For high areas sand them down and for low areas fill with a leveling compound.
Moisture can make a beautiful hardwood floor turn into a disaster. A layer of underlayment or moisture control will help prevent moisture from creeping into the new wood flooring and wreaking havoc.
When beginning the installation, measure a Chalk line evenly creating a straight line to follow when laying the flooring. Make sure the spaces in the flooring are evenly gapped and there is an adequate expansion gap. Once the floor has been installed and trim is ready to be placed; make sure not to nail the trim to the flooring. If nailed to the floor, this can prevent it from expanding correctly resulting in possible defects when it expands and contracts.
These are a few tips to follow when installing new wood flooring. When in doubt, consult with a professional. As always stay safe and happy DIY construction.
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