How Do I Install Hardwood Flooring?

Wood floors come in various grades and widths, so this will be one of your first decisions when you are ready to install hardwood flooring. One such decision will be to choose between strip flooring which usually comes in thin pieces and plank flooring which is a bit thicker. There are also systems devised in order to rank the wood in quality. For example, the most common type of wood for floors, Oak, is graded as the following:•    Clear – very few blemishes and character marks.•    Select – features a light grain, has few blemishes, and is easy to match.•    Number 1 Common – will have a variety of hues, and some marks as well. •    Number 2 Common – has quite a few character marks such as knots, blemishes, and discolorations. The next step to hardwood floor installation is to choose between prefinished and unfinished wood. In most cases you will prefer the former as it has already been sanded, finished, and otherwise prepared for installation. The only time you will choose unfinished is for custom projects or when you already have some wood flooring installed and you have to match it. If you do choose to buy unfinished wood flooring, be careful when transporting it though as getting it wet will cause it to swell. When you are ready to install hardwood flooring, one of the first steps in the process is the fitting and nailing of the planks. Before undertaking this project be aware that you will need intermediate carpentry experience and the right tools. First you remove the baseboards, being careful not to break them. Then place the edges over top one another, roughly 4 to 6 inches apart, and glue the seams down. The flooring is usually laid out parallel to the room’s longest wall. Now lay the longest pieces at the doorways and use the shortest pieces all over the room, being careful not to have them all together. Now, in order to allow the boards to get larger and smaller naturally, you will want to use spacers between the planks. Now, gently insert the first set of planks into position, taking careful attention to place the groove side next to the wall. You will want to nail through the face of the planks, this way it will be hidden under the base board. You should also angle a nail over the tongue every 10 to 12 inches in strips and 5 to 8 inches for planks. The final step in hardwood floor installation is to tap the following planks into place. You can use a floor stapler to bind the nail pieces though the edge of the tongue. Now install the last row, using a pry bar to tighten if necessary. The entire process can be long and difficult if you have not had much experience, but it can save you quite a bit of money to do it yourself.