Installing Your New Hardwood Floor

Choosing hardwood as a flooring material is a great way to improve the look and value of your home.  Many choices in types of wood and stains available can create virtually any look and feel to a room.

Prior to installing your own hardwood floor, you need to strip current flooring down to the sub floor.  Next, purchase your chosen material for the new project and acclimate it to your home over several days; this allows the wood to expand or shrink prior to installing, saving you time in the future.

Hardwood planks should run the length of the room in the opposite direction of the floor joists.  This will ensure stability and prevent unneeded sagging later on.  It is also advisable to leave a gap between the planks and wall ¼ inch around the perimeter; this allows for expansion during changes in temperature and atmosphere.

Your first row of boards will be against any wall you choose.  Before attaching them, check them multiple times to ensure they are straight; this will prevent headaches throughout the rest of the room.

Next, drill a hole in the board which coincides with where it meets the underlying floor joist, and secure using regular deck screws.  After securing the boards, you may finish attaching them using a floor stapler, which may be rented from any hardware store.

Seams should stagger between rows with at least 5" in difference from one row to another.  Simply cut and trim boards as necessary to fit the length of the room.  As you attached each board, you will want to use a rubber mallet to tap them together for a flush fit between seams.

After securing all of your boards, you'll want to cut quarter round trim to finish the edges of the room.  This will also hide the gap between the floor and wall left for expansion.

Finally, you will sand and stain the entire floor with the color or hue of your choosing.  A finishing clear protective coat will bring your new hardwood floor to a high shine for years to come!