I would like to have a new hardwood floor in my bedroom. I am considering trying to install the wood floor by myself. I intend to buy pre-finished flooring as I have no idea how to seal a floor, nor do I like the
accompanying odor. I am wondering if you could give me some tips that will help me decide whether I should try this project or hire it out.
Thank you, Sue
Dear Sue,
Installing hardwood flooring is a very labor intensive project. Like with
most projects, getting the preparations and lay out done properly is the key to a successful project. So, here we go.
The first thing you will want to do is select and purchase your flooring.
You will want to purchase an additional 5% of flooring to account for
cutting; if you are installing diagonally, add 10%. You will also want to
allow for a three- to five-day acclamation period, before installing your
new flooring. Typically, you will not want the wood to have more than a
12-14% moisture content.
Remove all of the furniture from your room, strip your floor down to the
sub-flooring and then check the sub-flooring for looseness or squeaking.
Secure the sub-floor and mark out your floor joist. Remove your baseboards (I recommend leaving all of them off until the flooring installation is complete). Note: Typically, hardwood flooring is installed perpendicular to your floor joist, however, if your sub-floor is at least 1 1/2 inches thick you can install your flooring parallel to your floor joist as well. You can lay asphalt or rosin paper over your sub-floor to help reduce noise, however, most manufacturers do not suggest it.
Mark out and snap a center line, then snap a line to mark each floor joist.
I then recommend face nailing a 1x3 piece of pine along one side of the
centerline. Then place your first row of flooring along the other side and
securely nail it in place. I recommend cutting your flooring with a miter
saw. Make sure that you leave 1/2-inch of space around the perimeter of each wall for expansion. Once you have your first row nailed, continue on, but remember to stagger at least a 4- to 6-inch distance in joints. Once you get to your last piece, use a pry bar to secure the final row. Then face nail it along the wall edge. Your baseboard and shoe will cover the nail heads.
Once done with the first half of the room, come back to the center line and
remove the 1x3 piece of pine. Because you are changing the direction of your installation, you will need to install an oak spline (glue it) into the
existing row of flooring. Then, simply install the second half of your
floor. Finally, install the baseboards.