Flooring installation

Hardwood flooring installation can be an arduous and time consuming task, but if you feel comfortable giving it a try, you may potentially end up saving quite a considerable amount of money.  Properly installed hardwoods can last for several years, even under wet and humid circumstances, such as in a bathroom.  With a little planning and a step by step plan, as well as plenty of time, hardwood flooring installation can be accomplished without exorbitant professional services.  

Moisture causes the most damage to hardwood flooring.  Moisture can eventually lead to the warping and cracking of the surface as it expands and contracts.  This does not imply, however, that hardwood flooring cannot be used in humid circumstances.  Hardwood flooring simply requires a little preventive care in order to function well under these conditions.  Installing hardwood with an asphalt felt should provide a guarantee against rotting and warping of the hardwood.  Take 15 pound asphalt felt, and put it over the subfloor in overlapping sections.  The felt should be secured with a staple gun. 

Leave a little gap, around half an inch, between the asphalt felt and the wall.  A baseboard or base shoe will be secured in these smaller spaces between the flooring and the wall.  The initial three boards of the flooring should be put down by hand.  Board lengths are usually random, so segments of the flooring should be placed as a test before nailing down.  When the first boards are placed, the remainder can be placed with a flooring nailer.  This will make it simpler to do a good job of laying out the flooring.  

When the new flooring results in an uneven surface, you can use a reducer to create a level meeting point.  When getting ready to put down a hardwood floor, be certain to safely store the wood.  Placing the wood outside where it can get damp will lead to warped and cracked flooring that cannot be installed properly.  If the flooring must be stored outdoors, be sure to protect it with a waterproof tarp.  This can prevent any moisture from causing permanent damage.  Do not transport wood flooring in an open bed when weather conditions could give rise to rain or high humidity.

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