The beauty and durability of hardwood floors often lures home owners into replacing old flooring. This can be a great investment. If you are looking into hardwood floor installation for your home there are a few things you will need to know. This article features some tips and directions to ensure your hardwood floor installation goes smoothly.
Planning is an essential step in the hardwood floor installation process. A little organization goes a long way. First of all, hardwood floors need some adjustment time before you can install them. Storing the wood indoors for a few days will allow the wood to expand but also will let you prepare the area being floored. Make sure you have all the necessary tools including a hardwood floor nailer, miter saw and jamb saw. Be sure that the sub-floor is properly cleaned and level. You can also cover the sub-floor with asphalt felt. On the felt you may want to make a few helpful markings that will really help you out later. At the starting wall you should mark a straight line about a half inch from the wall. Also, a chalk centerline should be made by making a few measurements at various points in the room.
When you begin the hardwood floor installation, choose the longest boards or widest planks. You then should pre-drill some pilot holes in a place where the 1 ½ inch finishing nails will be hidden when the molding is replaced and face nail the first boards into the floor joists. For the following row you should drill pilot holes at 45 degree angles into the tongue every 10 inches. Also, nail at the floor joists and the ends of the board. Use the floor nailer for the following rows until there is no more room and finish the room in the same manner it began by hand.
Hardwood floor installation requires some carpentry skills, however with some planning and the right tools it should go smoothly. Seeing the finished product is satisfying and will be rewarding for many years.
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