Learn About Hardwood Flooring Installation

August 16th, 2009 by granitestonemarble

Hardwood flooring installation can be a difficult and sometimes complicated task, but if you feel comfortable giving it a go personally, you can end up saving quite a bit of money. Properly installed hardwoods can last for generations, even under moist and humid conditions, such as in a bathroom. With a little advice and a step by step guide, as well as plenty of time, hardwood flooring installation can be done without expensive professional services.

Moisture is the number one enemy of hardwood flooring. Moisture can eventually lead to the warping and cracking of the surface as it expands and contracts. This does not mean, however, that hardwood flooring cannot be used in wetter conditions. Hardwood flooring simply requires a little maintenance in order to work well under these conditions. Installing hardwood with an asphalt felt should provide a great degree of protection against rotting and warping of the hardwood. Take 15 pound asphalt felt, and put it over the subfloor in overlapping sections. The felt should be tacked down with a staple gun.

Leave a small gap, around half an inch, between the asphalt felt and the wall. A baseboard or base shoe will be placed in these smaller spaces between the flooring and the wall. The first three boards of the flooring should be laid out by hand. Board lengths are typically random, so portions of the flooring should be set out as a test before nailing down. When the first boards are put out, the rest can be set with a flooring nailer. This will make it easier to do an accurate job of laying out the flooring.

When the new flooring results in an uneven surface, you can employ a reducer to create a level surface. When preparing hardwood flooring installation, be sure to safely store the wood. Placing the wood out in the open where it can get damp will lead to uneven flooring that does not fit together. If the flooring must be stored outdoors, be sure to cover it with a waterproof tarp. This can prevent any moisture from causing permanent damage. Do not transport wood flooring in an open bed when weather conditions could give rise to rain or high humidity.

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