Hardwood floor installation is actually pretty straight forward. Once you have properly planned out what you are doing and made all of the decisions regarding what kind of flooring, it can be easy. What should you do about the sub floor and who should complete the installation for you? There are lots of sites that discuss the actual installation work of installing a hardwood floor. However in this post we are going to focus more on the practical side of all of the decisions that need to be made. When you consider a hardwood floor and hopefully provide a few guidelines or ideas for you to consider.
What Rooms will Hardwood Flooring Be Installed In
Will you install hardwood flooring in the entire house, on one level, in one room? What about the stairs. Some people prefer to have several rooms carpeted and the rest with hardwood flooring to provide contrast. Some people want the entire house flooring to be hardwood. There are practical considerations to take into account in making these decisions in addition to the cost. Matching floor levels from room to room may be a concern if you want to avoid uneven floor interfaces. The stairs can be the most expensive part of the flooring due to the additional labor required especially if it is curved. More information on both areas in a moment.
Preparation of the Floor
Obviously the existing floor material needs to be removed. The sub floor underneath needs to be cleaned of all debris and any nails or staples also removed to leave a smooth surface to work with. It is also a good idea to run over the floor with a vacuum to clear away any dirt and dust that may be left. This will mean less dirt will be stirred up when you are installing the new flooring. Use a broom to dislodge any dust that is sticking to the sub floor.
Installing Additional Sub Floor Support
If your existing sub floor is less than 5/8’s inches or you want to make sure that your floor is really tight with no squeaks. If not you may want to add another sub floor and screw nail it down into the joists. Alternately you can also screw nail your existing floor wherever there are existing squeaks. Test this by walking all over the floor and screw nailing into a joist at that point.
Direction for the Floor to Run
Most installers will recommend that you install the floor with the grain of the wood running lengthwise in the room instead of across the room. This approach has the impact of making a room look larger than it actually is. Once you have chosen which way the wood grain will run, maintain this approach throughout the house.
Color or Stain of the Floor You will Choose
This is an entirely personal choice that will be made by you the customer. Something to consider is obviously matching the décor of the rest of the house and matching your planned decorating ideas. Also if you plan to sell the home anytime soon, you may want to choose something more neutral in color so that the floor will appeal to more potential buyers when it comes time to sell your home.
Who Will Complete the Hardwood Floor Installation
Most people will usually go with the installer recommended by the store where you purchased your flooring from. Many consumers will do it themselves in an effort to save money as well. Like any project that you take on, take the time to learn how to do the installation properly and plan it out so that no mistakes are made. Once the floor is nailed to the subfloor it is pretty hard to take it up to do any rearrangements or make corrections.