If you think installing hardwood floors requires professional help from carpenters, you have not kept pace with recent developments in the field. The job of installing hardwood floors is now easier than ever before and anyone can easily perform the task with pre-finished flooring, where the wood is factory-finished and you are saved from the labor of sanding and finishing the floor.
Hardwood floors add a touch of elegance to your home and several wood varieties other than the popular red oak are available in a range of colors and textures. You can search the Internet or make a scouting trip to a hardware shop to select the type of material you want to use in installing hardwood floors.
The pre-finished flooring can be bought from reliable merchants in your neighborhood or from online vendors. Stack the wood in the room for a couple of days so that it gets time to adjust to your home’s humidity level. As all the wood expands in hot weather, allow half-an-inch gap between the floor and the walls. This gap can be covered with baseboard molding strips later.
For the actual installation of the floors, follow the instructions given by the supplier. These are usually the things you have to do step-by-step to get a custom finish on the floor. The wood comes already micro-beveled to allow for expansion of wood during the summer.
If your flooring is very old and looks it, you can also refinish it to make it look like new. Before the job starts, remove furniture, rugs, drapes and all articles on the floor. Refinished flooring takes about three days to be ready for use again, during which time keep the doors and windows of the room closed to prevent airborne dust entering inside. After the job is finished, it is advisable to allow one more day before placing the furniture and other items back on the floor.
Still easier to install are laminate floors which also require very little maintenance. The flooring is resistant to scratches and stains and is especially suitable for withstanding heavy traffic or if you have pets or kids. The laminate floors can be laid easily as the flooring comes with a tongue and groove interlocking system.
There are a lot of things to consider when choosing your flooring, but rest assured that manufacturers have come a long way in making their flooring options easier to install. Make sure the instructions that come with your flooring material are clear and make sense, and don’t be afraid to ask questions before you buy.
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