Tips On Hardwood Floor Installation
January 30, 2010 by Shawne M. Patrick
Filed under Bedroom
Many houses had their interior decor installed with hardwood flooring. The reason many house owners choose this flooring is usually because it adds style to the home and it is also sturdy. Installing this flooring isn’t easy by far. Many people can install it themselves while others need professional help. If you have a sub-floor it’s a good idea to fix it first before installing a hardwood floor.
Some Tips On Hardwood Flooring Installation :
1) The sub-floor must be covered with 15 pound asphalt felt, overlapping the seams by three inches. You will need a staple gun to anchor the felt to the sub-floor. Measure the rooms width to get an accurate center line.
2) Indicate the edge of the 1st row of flooring by snapping another chalk line 1/2 in. from the starting wall precisely parallel to your center line. Then a 1/2-inch gap between the flooring and the wall and this should make allowance for growth if needed. It will be covered by a base shoe baseboard molding.
3) Now you will need to pick the longest boards or widest planks for the 1st row of flooring. Now near the wall where the nail heads will be covered, drill pilot holes for one 1/2-inch finishing nails. Then, face nail the 1st row through the plywood sub flooring to the floor beams or sleepers. Use a nail set to recess the nails below the surface.
4) Installing the second row and each row after you will have to then move a short piece of flooring along the edge and give it a sharp rap with something like a mallet to tighten the new row against the prior row before you actually start nailing.
5) Finally, when you reach the last row you need to use a block and a pry bar to wedge the last boards firmly into position. Drill holes and face nail boards where base shoe or baseboard molding will cover using the reference marks along the wall to locate the joists. Set the nail heads below the surface using a hammer and nail set. This is the last step when installing hardwood flooring.
Obviously, you are not going to carpet over a new hardwood floor, but you’ll definitely need to dress it up with two new area rugs. Enjoy!
