Installing Hardwood Floors: A Personal Guide

By: Christopher Smith

If you think installing hardwood floors requires professional help from carpenters, you have not kept pace with recent developments in the field. The job of installing hardwood floors is now easier than ever before and anyone can easily perform the task with pre-finished flooring, where the wood is factory-finished and you are saved from the labor of sanding and finishing the floor.

Other than the ever-popular red oak, there are many varieties of hardwood which are available in several colors and textures to add a touch of class to your home. Selection of the type of material you want to use in installing hardwood floors can become easier if you do a search on the Internet or make a preliminary visit to a hardware shop.

Pre-finished flooring can be bought online or from a merchant you trust. After you get the wood home, you should stack the wood in the room it will be installed in for a few days to let it adjust to the normal humidity level. This is important to do because moisture makes wood expand. Leave a half inch between the floor and the wall when installing your flooring. This space could be covered with a baseboard or molding strip later.

When installing your hardwood floors, there will be step by step instructions from the supplier. If you follow these details, you will get a professional look on your new floor. The wood panels come micro-beveled from the manufacturer to allow for expansion in the summer heat.

If your flooring is very old and looks it, you can also refinish it to make it look like new. 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, during which time keep the doors and windows of the room closed to prevent airborne dust entering inside. After the job is finished, it is advisable to allow one more day before placing the furniture and other items back on the floor.

Laminate floors are yet easier to install, and they require little upkeep. This flooring stands up especially well to heavy traffic, the sort that comes with pets and children, and is very resistant to scrathches and stains. An interlocking tongue and groove system makes this flooring easy to install.

With all of the different flooring options out there it may take some time to find the one that works for you. Fortunately, installing new wood floors is easier than ever with the specialized products on the market today. When buying your new flooring, make sure that the enclosed directions are clear and straightforward. If in doubt, ask a lot of questions before you start your installation project!

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Numerous do-it-yourselfers have questions about installing hardwood floors and refinishing wood floors that can usually be answered with a quick online search.
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