Installing hardwood floors is a task best left to the professionals, but if you’re going to attempt it yourself, the following tips will help ensure you get a great result.
You should never install your wood flooring as soon as it arrives. Instead, let it rest for three days or so. This allows the flooring to adjust to the temperature and humidity levels in your home. It may seem subtle, but this wait ensures the wood will be in the perfect condition to lay.
Check for any damage. Usually, you can use the undamaged part even if some of the wood is damaged, so set these pieces aside. Any warped bits should also be kept aside. They may be trimmed and used later on.
It’s also a good idea to mix up the different cases of wood since they tend to be the same shade. By mixing them all up, you have a better variety set up across the floor, rather than bunching too many similar pieces in one area. It may help to lay out the various pieces in the order you intend to lay them. This can give you an idea of whether or not there will be obvious patterns.
Remove everything before you begin to ensure your flooring is easy to lay. This includes any residue left by the previous flooring. This may need to be scraped off and it is tempting to lay the wood flooring over it, but this will give you an uneven floor.
When preparing the flooring for nails, you should use a small drill to create 0.8mm holes that are set 1.27cm from the grooved edge. These holes will prevent the wood from splitting and you can countersink the nails easily. It also ensures the nail holes are properly lined up.
Once the flooring is all in place, use putty to fill in the holes. These may now be sanded and finished along with the rest of the floor.
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