Install Hardwood Flooring:
Install Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood is not only one of the most classic examples of flooring; it is also one of the most versatile. There are many widths, grades and shades to choose from. The actual hardwood material itself relies on what the customer wants: birch, maple, or oak. As for the grades of the wood, there are clear, select, no. 1 common and no. 2 common.
Clear hardwood has very few flaws and almost perfect in surface marks. Select hardwood contains a few flaws, has bright grains and you can easily match individual pieces well. No. 1 common hardwood has both light and dark pieces with a few character marks. The last one, No. 2 common hardwood has all the character marks you could possibly want: dark coloration, light coloration, knots, worm holes, etc.
Installing hardwood floors can go two ways: one, you hire the flooring professionals; and two, you do it yourself. Flooring professionals can be expensive, but it can save you a lot of grief. This takes a whole lot of effort, and if you don’t have some background in carpentry, you just might do more harm to your home (and yourself) than good. If you have a rather large investment on this project, it would be best to leave it to the experts.
If you however, have basic carpentry skills; and have all the necessary tools to do the job; and are sure that this won’t jeopardize your investment, then you can do so. Some of the more specialized tools you would need are: floor nailers, miters and jamb saws.
First of all, you should remove the baseboards gently. Try to extract them whole, unless of course, you plan to replace them. Many professional installers lay down a 6 millimeter poly plastic or 15 lb. builders’ felt vapor barrier as protection. The flooring is often laid out parallel to the longest outside wall. If you are unsure where to start, try to place the planks where, as the term goes, it doesn’t show. Try to position the hardwood planks without nailing them yet to the floor. This way, you can evaluate the layout of the floor and whether it works for the room or not. If you can, get someone else’s opinion. Your flooring should compliment the rest of the room / house, not overwhelm it.
Try stacking the longer pieces together; and use these at doorway entries or walkways. The shorter pieces should be integrated through out the room. However, try to strike a balance between the longer pieces and the shorter pieces. Never cluster shorter pieces into one spot.
Remember too, that unlike tiles, hardwood floorings tend to expand and contract when the temperature shifts. It is therefore necessary to insert spaces around the perimeter of the room and in between planks. The extension gap around the perimeter of the room should be hidden under the baseboards. The gaps between the planks should be almost invisible.
When nailing the first few boards, make sure that it aligns perfectly with the wall, and nail it right through the wood’s face. Make sure you stick to a certain pattern when you nail in the rest of the hardwood.
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