5 Steps to Install Hardwood Flooring Successfully

The choice of flooring in a house has become an important aspect while building or renovating your home. While abundant options are available in the market, hardwood flooring surpasses all due to its durable performance and the aesthetics it adds to your living space.

Whether you plan to hire a professional to install the floor or opt for the DIY route, ensure the following steps are duly followed for a perfect installation –

Step1: Choose the Right Wood

An array of hardwood flooring options is available in the market concerning patterns, wood species, plank sizes, surface finishes, etc. It is important to consider their variety to choose the one perfectly suitable for your place. Moreover, not all of them are created of the same quality. Some species of wood are more robust than others and are great for bustling areas.

Step2:Acclimatise the flooring

Before ordering the flooring, precisely measure the room’s width and length to get the right quantity. Stack the wood in the room where it has to be installed at least one week before the installation to help the flooring adapt to its new surroundings. This is done as hardwood expands or contracts with changing heat and humidity levels in the surroundings.

Step3:Prepare the installation area.

Reading the installation instructions laid down by the manufacturer carefully will help you execute the job properly. After that, you need to start preparing your subfloor for installation. Ensure the subfloor is flat and the moisture content meets the desired levels. Get the right equipment based on the method of installation.

Step 4:Install the flooring.

The installation process begins by rolling out the underlayment if required. Then starts, the actual floor installation. Choose the direction in which you wish to lay down the flooring. This might depend on the room’s shape and size and the amount of natural light you get in your room. After that, please choose a suitable installation method ranging from nailing down the floor with a pneumatic nailer or gluing it down by adhering the material to the subfloor or floating where the planks are attached instead of the bed. Also, don’t forget to leave expansion gaps around the edge of your room.

Step 5:Add the finishing touch

After the installation, do the last stage touch-up with some flooring accessories, as the non-finished details can make the room look shabby and incomplete. Remove the spacers and attach trim and moldings when all rows are installed. Cover the expansion gap with the skirting board’s help, door bars, ramps, pipe covers, etc.

To keep your flooring looking its best, it is important to clean it regularly. Sweeping and damp mopping will keep the dirt away and the floor shiny and new. Also, due care must be given to cleaning spills immediately to stop them from seeping into the wood and leaving permanent stains.