Starting Hardwood Floor Installation

If you re installing laminate flooring in an unsquare room or you re installing hardwood planks you re bound to have an angle at the wall when you come to the last row.

Starting hardwood floor installation.

The following steps will remove the doubt and fears you may have of taking on this task by yourself. They must be absolutely straight and laid without gaps or bends. Installation should begin on the longest straight wall that is the most visible. For instance solid hardwood flooring is typically nailed down during installation while tongue and groove engineered flooring is usually clicked together or completely glued down.

Follow these instructions on the installation of wood floors. Learn how to install solid hardwood flooring with a few simple tools. Hardwood floors are durable beautiful and a great diy project. Properly laying the first three boards in a hardwood flooring installation is essential to a quality install.

Since wood is a dimensionally imperfect material this can be a challenge to get right but the extra effort is worth the time investment. A good way to deal with it is to split the difference by angling the boards at the starting wall. Ready to transform your space with new hardwood flooring. If you are working atop a single plywood layer we recommend adding a second layer of 1 4 to 1 2 inch plywood or commercial floor substrate material.

The type of installation you choose will depend on your subfloor budget lifestyle and the type of wood flooring you select. Before starting calculate the width the last row will be. Before you get started plan how to install your hardwood floors. A minimum 3 4 inch thick sub floor is required.

Install a hardwood floor. By doing it yourself you will not only save money but have the satisfaction of looking at a floor installed by you. Remove the shoe molding and snap a chalk line 3 8 out from the baseboard this allows for expansion in the hot humid weather and contraction in the colder drier weather of the hardwood flooring. Use a utility knife to cut the underlayment so it fits around objects such as hearths or closets.

If large this gap is unsightly. The first three boards set the tone and direction for the floor. Steps for installing hardwood floors. Start the installation at the longest unobstructed wall.