Installing Hardwood Floors: A Personal Guide
Friday, November 9th, 2007 by Subscribe To Our Feed
Recent advances in the field of installing hardwood floors have made it easier than ever before. Installing hardwood floors no longer requires the assistance of a professional carpenter; it can easily be completed by a layperson. Pre-finished flooring is now available, saving the homeowner the work of sanding and finishing the floor, because all of this work is done on-site in the factory.
In addition to the traditional red oak wood, there are many varieties of wood available for hardwood floors in your home. They offer you a wide range of colors and textures. The Internet or a hardware store can help you select the right style. Installing hardwood floors can enhance the look and feel of your home.
Reliable merchants in your neighborhood and certain online vendors can be great places to buy pre-finished flooring. The flooring wood should be stacked in the intended room for a couple of days, so that the wood has time to acclimatize to your home’s humidity level. Since all wood expands in hot weather, allow yourself a half-an-inch gap between the floor and the walls; cover this gap with baseboard molding strips later.
For the actual installation of the floors, follow the instructions given by the supplier. These are usually the things you have to do step-by-step to get a custom finish on the floor. The wood comes already micro-beveled to allow for expansion of wood in summers.
An old floor appearing well worn can also be refinished to give it a new life and fresh look. Prior to starting the job of refinish, all furniture, rugs, drapes and other articles on the floor have to be removed. It takes about three days for a refinished floor to be usable again. During this time, doors and windows of the room can be kept closed to prevent airborne dust settling on the floor. It is preferable to allow one more day, after the job is finished, before placing the furniture and other items back on the floor.
Laminate floors are better still, as they require very little maintenance and are easier to install. This kind of flooring is highly resistant to scratches, stains, and other damage, making it particularly suited for withstanding heavy traffic, say if you have pets or kids. Laminate floors can be laid easily thanks to the tongue and groove interlocking system that the flooring comes with.
The task is made easier with pre-finished flooring, where the wood is factory-finished and you are saved from the labor of sanding and finishing the floor. When installing hardwood floors, there will be step by step instructions from the supplier. Before the job starts, remove furniture, rugs, drapes and all articles on the floor. Refinished flooring takes about three days to be ready for use again. Still easier to install is the laminate floors and these require very little maintenance. These floors can be laid easily as the flooring comes with a tongue and groove interlocking system.
- Christopher Smith
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