Flooring
How to Install Kitchen Floor Tile
How to Install a Prefinished Hardwood Floor
How to Install Wall-to-Wall Carpeting
How to Install a Prefinished Hardwood Floor
Want a great way to increase the value of your home? Install a hardwood floor! The following steps will remove the doubt and fears you may have of taking on this task by yourself. By doing it yourself you will not only save money but have the satisfaction of looking at a floor installed by you!
Purchase a wood that will give you the right look for your space. Be prepared for delivery of a very heavy large stack of wood if you are doing more than one room. Store the wood in the space you will be installing at least 2 weeks prior to actually starting the install. This give the wood a chance to expand and contract based on the humidity and temperature of the space.
Tools you’ll need
Square
Chalk line
Angle Nailer (manual for one room project or pnuematic for large jobs)
Hammer
Table saw
Chop saw (mitre saw)
Nail Gun (electric or fuel cell) for face nailing (optional)
Tapping block and pull bar (optional)
Removal of old floor
Remove the old floor down to the sub-floor. This will prevent having different "levels" of flooring across the space where you will be installing. Remove as many nails, tacks, etc. as possible for best results.
Your First Board
Start by snapping a chalk line across your sub floor. Measure out from the wall the distance of one floor board plus 1/8 to 1/4 inch expansion room. You can use a scrap piece of luan or other thin wood material against the wall to use as a spacer. Use spiral nails at an angle on first few boards. Begin with the longest, most straight wall; using the longest, most straight floor boards you have. It is very important that the first few floor boards you lay down are perfectly straight across the room, this prevents your floor from looking crooked or slanted across the room.
Finish Nailer
(Option 1) Face nail (using finish nails) then angle nail the first few rows of boards you install. (Option 2) Face nail (using electric brad nailer or finish nailer) the first few rows of boards you install. This will keep your very first rows straight where wall prevents the use of the floor nailer.
Racking
Racking the boards gives the chance to eliminate imperfect pieces and helps stagger board ends. Lay out the boards in a few rows and randomly stagger boards by shade, while staggering the board ends 3" or more between rows. Boards with defects and large knots can be used in less conspicuous areas along the wall.
Manual Floor Nailer
When there is enough space to begin using the floor nailer, space nails 8-10 inches apart (2-5 nails per board). Try not to nail boards less than 2" from either end. Check for square early and often. Check your work as you continue, use a square if you have a good reference point. Make sure each board end is at least 3" from the board ends in the previous row. Continue using the floor nailer until you reach the far wall, then face nail the last remaining rows.
Pieces of old removed carpet can be useful to rest your tools and your knees.
A tapping block and/or a pull bar help align and fit boards without damaging the edges of the board.
You can get the job done a lot faster if you hire a professional!