Hardwood Floor Installation 

Hardwood floor changes the entire appearance of a home, not in a wrong way but into beauty. When the home has a specific perfect wall colour, the combination gives the house another beautiful vibe. The hardwood floor has an opulent, striking look that provides value to a home and makes it warm. The installation process of a hardwood floor is not that difficult. However, without careful installation or inevitable mistakes, the look won’t be as you imagined it to be.

Whether you choose to use a handyperson for this or do it yourself, below are the best steps or processes for installing your hardwood floor.

1, Have the right tool

Of course, every handyperson usually comes with the right tools for setting this up. However, if you are doing it yourself, it advisable to get the right tools. Don’t even assume that you can skip this step because using the right gear makes work easier. Essential tools for this job are,

• Glue—A well adaptive glue for hardwood. There are lots in the market, which is essential if you will use the glue method.
• Miter Saw—you need to make the easy crosscut in every row that touches the wall.
• Jamb saw—also known as handsaw, is a perfect tool for breaking doorjambs.
• Table saw—this is essential for rip cuts when a width board shouldn’t be.
• Other items include staplers, compressors, chalk lines, finish nailer, nail set, and tape measure.

Some people may require more tools. However, it all burns down to using the ones that work best for you to make the process easy.

2, Determine your installation method

From the tools listed above, you need to determine the installation method you prefer for your hardwood floor. There are methods like the nail-down method, the glue-down method, and the click-lock method. Just as their names imply, they mean;

• The nail-down method is the installation whereby the hardwood is nailed to the ground. The technique is excellent and very much permanent; this is the reason most homeowners opt-in for it. The good thing about this method is that when the hardwood is fixed, it will be difficult to see the nails.
• The Glue-down is another popular method for the installation of hardwood. Some people may consider this method mild because the adhesive glues the hardwood to the floor.
• And finally, the click-lock method is another standard method that involves ascribing or connecting the panels. This process assembles not only the block but also blocks out moisture. This installation method is used when the subfloor is cemented and the tile or a floor with radiant heat.

3,Prepare hardwood flooring.

Before the installation period, let the hardwood flooring get used to the room temperature and moisture for three to five days before implementing the installation. While you wait for the flooring to acclimate, use the opportunity to place the boards from many cases out on the floor and combine them up to differ in lengths and shapes. This is because cases most time are in the shades. Thus, doing this makes the finish look classic. Therefore, arrange them in the way you will easily install them; it all makes work easier. When you combine the cases, take time to also differentiate between the good and the bad pieces. However, don’t discard them; they are likely to come in handy during the installation piece. After the floor has become accustomed to the room’s temperature, it is time to begin installing the hardwood. It would help if you started with the squarest ones for the first two rows.

4, Preparing the floor

Prepping your hardwood flooring is not the only thing that needs to be considered before installing your hardwood, but your floor or subfloor. You shouldn’t be caught installing your hardwood on a dirty or overwhelming floor; thus, start by removing any previous flooring you have on it. Remove and discard any carpets, strips, and even baseboards. We want to have and work on a surface that is bare and has no previous attachments. Also, now is the opportunity to vacuum the bare floor for a cleaner surface. Having a cleaner and smooth subfloor makes it easy to install the hardwood, especially when you don’t have to glue or fix on dirty before the hardwood.

5, Installing the hardwood floor

Now that all the above preparations are achieved and done, it’s time to install your hardwood floor. And these are the tips you need:

• You will nail the first and last rows of your floor over the face of the board. For a first-timer, don’t fix but screw it for easy removal when things go wrong. For all other rows, it should be nailed through the tongue. To prevent a split, drill 1/32-inch width holes 1/2-inch from the edge if you are not using a floor nailer.
• Place the initial board on the line groove to the wall and fix about ¾ inches insertions for the expansion break. This should be the same at the end of the board and the wall.
• At the pre-drilled hovels or holes, pierce flooring nail through it. The following boards should be tapped next in place using tapping or patter block and mallet. Also, ensure you countersink the entire nail.
• When you reach the ending part, cut size the board to fit and ensure you leave at least ¾ inches gap and blind nail at a 45-degree angle.
• For the second row, thrust the groove into the tongue of the first installed row. Tap it together without tapping block. When this roll is installed correctly, blind nail it perfectly into place.
• Once you get the first, second, and even the third row correctly, the other rows should be way easier to install. Therefore, continue to install the other boards. Also, bear in mind to reel the joints and sustain gaps, and mix boards of different shapes to make it attractive.
• Use a jigsaw to cut away any jogs, similar to a fireplace hearth, suitable for the boards. You can also cut the extra underlayment, sand, and stain if required.

Finally, it may seem not very clear for a beginner. However, once you install the first and the second row, as stated above, it becomes easier as you do so.