There are two choices of hardwood flooring: pre-finished and unfinished. Many novice installers prefer pre-finished flooring because it cuts back on work, but veteran installers know there’s no real substitute for a beautiful wood floor that’s been sanded and finished by hand. Once the type of wood is chosen, it’s best to buy about 30 percent more stock than the job requires to replaced boards that are cut incorrectly or otherwise damaged. Even longtime installers make mistakes that require replacing boards. It’s also essential to bring the wood inside the structure and allow it to acclimate to the temperature and humidity in the building for about two weeks (or longer, depending on conditions). Installers who skip this seasoning time are only asking for trouble, because the flooring will then acclimate during installation or shortly thereafter, with the result that the floor will most likely buckle and squeak. That’s one way to tell whether a hardwood floor has been properly installed.

The first step to a good installation is to build a proper base for the floor. The finished floor’s quality depends directly on how well the subfloor is installed. Any imperfections in the subfloor will show up in the finished floor. In other words, the installer can’t hide his or her subfloor mistakes under the wood planks.

Most subfloors are created by nailing down half-inch to three-quarter-inch plywood. The subfloor must be completely flat, even if it’s not level in some places. To keep the wood floor from squeaking, cover the subfloor with Rosin paper or the new cork underflooring. This extra step means more work, but it keeps down the noise of boards rubbing against each other.

Once the subfloor is down, expert installers do a “dry lay” of the top boards. That way the pattern of the wood can be corrected and perfected before nailing begins. Installing the first board is crucial to a successful project. Many installers say that the entire floor rests on how well that first board is laid down. It’s worth every minute to spend extra time assembling the pattern in a dry lay, then laying the first board, and repeatedly checking to see that the boards “square” properly with each other.

The boards should be nailed tightly to each other, but the back of the flooring should be loose to allow the wood to “breathe” with changes in its environment. Be sure to use the proper equipment for this task, a specialized nail gun called a blind nailer. This tool hides the nails in the tongue of each board so that the wood fits together snugly and smoothly. Pneumatic blind nailers are available to rent from many home improvement stores. This power tool helps the installer enormously and is well worth the rental price.

Another special tool that’s helpful when you install hardwood floors is a Japanese pull saw, an implement that cuts on the backward stroke instead of the forward stroke like most manual saws. Using this tool an installer can cut out a small portion of the doorjamb to allow the flooring to run beneath it. The Japanese pull saw has saved the knuckles of many installers.

Finally, a properly installed wood floor can be ruined by a bad finishing job. Novices should always get a professional to help sand, stain and coat the floor. Finishing is a critical task that takes plenty of practice to do correctly. Without expertise, novice installers may see their hours of hard labor come to nothing instead of a beautiful, gleaming hardwood floor.

Most hardwood floors will last as long as the house does! They are durable and can stand up to all forms of modern living. Installing hardwood floors is best left to the experts, it is not a straightforward task, and it takes special equipment and knowledge to place professionally, unless you have moderate DIY skills.

There are three main varieties of hardwood floors. Parquet designs are the type that uses geometric patterns, often in six by six groups; they are very unique and individual. The plank variety uses long boards that have a minimum width of three inches. Plank designs are installed by screwing and nailing the individual boards to the floor. The most common variety is known as strip design. These are usually two and a quarter inches wide but can also be smaller or larger. As with planks they are nailed, screwed, or glued to the floor.

It is useful to understand that changes in the humidity in your home throughout the year can expand and contract any form of wood flooring. Most professional hardwood floor installation firms will leave small expansion gaps in between the final pieces and the wall so that the actual flooring does not buckle.

There are other factors involved when choosing a hardwood floor. One of which is the grading. This is the term used to describe the appearance of the actual wood. Color is another factor which can vary depending upon the tree. There is also the grain, this is determined by the variety of tree and the direction in which the wood has been cut – at a tangent or radial to the tree rings.

Once the floor has been installed there is another factor that can alter its appearance. This is what is called the finish. There are two types of finish – surface and penetrating. Surface finishes are applied by first applying a stain to the wood and then a coating with a durable substance such as varnish or polyurethane that is water resistant. The other option, penetrating finish, uses a stain or wax that is more expensive than surface finishing. Usually this form of finish is more long lasting and enhances the natural color of the wood.

There are many positives that come with installing hardwood flooring, apart from the obvious elegant appearance it can also increase the value of your house significantly and will make it stand apart from others in the neighborhood. It can also make your house feel a lot warmer and comfortable. It adds an old touch to even modern properties.

Though installing hardwood flooring is not exactly cheap, it is an investment that is well worth considering and will never be regretted. They are far more durable, long lasting, and better looking than a carpeted floor.

Many more families are starting to purchase hardwood floors because of their ease to take care of and keep clean. Hardwood floors don’t show dirt like carpet and is easy to clean and take care of, a damp cloth or mop and a broom is all you need to keep your floor looking new.

Now hardwood floors can be found in a wide arrangement of styles, colors and woods such as pine, oak and laminate. It almost makes it tough to decide which one to choose for your home.

A lot of people look at the look of hardwood floors and automatically count them out because they look expensive, so they assume that they can’t afford them, but now they are affordable, durable and can be installed yourself.

Hardwood floors used to be a fancy treat for most families because the installation cost was too much and they couldn’t afford it. These days they are more affordable and even easy to install. As with anything that you have installed such as appliances, carpet, flooring, cabinets and more chances are you will pay more for hardwood floor  installation than the product itself, so buyer beware.

Yes, its true. If you are looking for hardwood floors then the best thing to do is compare around, many retail stores are offering incentives with hardwood floor installations such as free installation if you place it on your credit card or store credit card so always shop around. While the incentive of no installation cost sounds good you will pay for the cost by the time you pay interest on your purchase. You may also find the material costs to be more expensive.

Hardwood floors require some prep work before hand and there are a various of items that you can do if you decide you want to tackle the job yourself such as online videos, DVD’s or books that you can read that are helpful to you and show you step by step how it can be done. When tackling the job of hardwood floor installation always allow for a few days to get the job done. Alternatively, installing laminate flooring is a popular choice, as they are economical, long lasting, and easy to install.

If you are a fast learner, like to take on tasks yourself or have time then installation yourself may be the route for you. Hardwood floor installation doesn’t take long to do it just can be tedious and time consuming. If you feel this is more than you can take on then check around for installation costs. Doing a comparison will get you the better deal. You can expect to pay about $3 a square foot on average for labor. If you have the time to do it yourself you’ll just have to pay for the materials. By taking the time to install hardwood flooring yourself you can sit back and reap the rewards of enjoying your hardwood floors that you installed yourself.

First, one should consider where they are going to install their hardwood floor. Hardwood floors are, well, hard wood. If a hardwood floor is placed in a kitchen and the faucet leaks onto the floor for several hours it will ruin the wood. Once the faucet leak is repaired the floor will be severely damaged wherever water has seeped and those pieces of floor will need to be replaced. This can be extremely expensive.

The best places for hardwood floor installation are areas that do not receive heavy foot traffic and damage inducing activities. Hardwood floors scratch, they are not appropriate in a room that contains sharp ended objects that get pushed across the floor. A hardwood floor will stay beautiful as long as it is taken care of properly.

Installing hardwood floors does not require any exotic tools or unique skills to accomplish successfully. However, if the floor is going to be installed on a surface that has linoleum that has been glued to a concrete slab there may be some special tools required to chisel the linoleum, remove the adhesive, and make the surface smooth.

It is important when prepping a floor for hardwood installation that no oil based detergent or cleaner be used. Oil based cleaners damage the floor and it will not have as long a life expectancy as when installed on a surface that has been properly prepared.

The two choices most people have when selecting their hardwood is solid or engineered. The basic difference is that solid wood is solid and engineered wood is usually plywood with a thin wood veneer top. The veneer will hold up better in areas where there is a lot of activity and is easier to keep free of dust. But the solid wood will keep its integrity longer. Many people go with engineered wood because it is more cost effective than solid wood.

If the flooring is going to be installed on a concrete surface it is also important to get a moisture meter. Moisture is very bad for hardwood floors and there is an underlayment that will prevent moisture from seeping into the floor that can be laid prior to installation. This material looks and feels like very thin black foam. It is especially a good idea to use this material for woods such as bamboo.

A list of the tools that are needed to complete hardwood floor installation will come with the flooring. Most of these tools can be rented from a home improvement store on an hourly or daily basis. If the DIY project is for a family room plan on renting the tool for at least one day.

One last tip regarding installation. Be sure to have all the materials and tools in one place and do not have distractions in the area when you are doing this project. Hardwood floor installation is not hard but it does require focus and concentration.

The resulting floor was beautiful and expected to last for the life of the home. In fact, many homes that are over one hundred years in age have hardwood floors that remain very beautiful and serviceable even today.

The process of installing hardwood floors does not have to be so labor intensive. Today, we have available floating hardwood floors, that are prefinished and very easily installed. These floors are engineered and rest on padding that allow for longer periods of standing or walking without the fatigue of standing on harder surfaces. These floors are not nailed at all and nay be glued together or simply clicked together over padding.

The padding is installed with the vapor barrier down and held in place with double stick tape at all edges. Be sure that you choose the correct padding for the flooring that you are using.

Short scrap pieces of the flooring may be used as spacers against the walls to help get the initial few rows in place. Stand them on edge between the wall and the first row. The second row is cut to fit and laid into place. Use a block and hammer to snap the pieces together. Door facings should be trimmed to allow the flooring boards to slip underneath, rather than trying to trim the flooring to fit around the trim. When you reach the final row then you should use your miter saw to cut the floor boards to fit, also leaving the three eights inch gap. A pry bar is necessary to pull this final row into place so that it clicks in with the rest of the flooring.

The final step to the hardwood floors installation is to add the base trim. Be sure that any molding used are nailed or glued to the walls and not to the flooring. With this type flooring, the space is necessary for the expansion and contraction of the floor as the humidity changes with the weather.

Once the hardwood floors installation is complete, move furniture back into place and enjoy your new flooring. Vacuuming or dust moping is about the only maintenance ever required of this flooring.

One of the greatest benefits of engineered flooring is that it is an environmentally friendly option. Engineered floors can be made from sustainable products such as bamboo or eucalyptus. These quick growing plants offer beauty and durability, but do not take hundreds of yeas to grow like oak trees.

Before you get started make sure that you measure out the amount of space that you want to cover with the hardwood flooring. This is going to be incredibly important. If you do not get the squar footage correct, you could end up spending a lot more money on flooring than you planned.

Once you have all of your measurements ready to go you can decide what type of flooring that you want. When it comes to installing hardwood floors you want to ensure that you choose a material that is going to suit all of your needs. You can choose a real wood, or you can go with an alternative.

If you are looking to save some extra money, you should look into alternative hardwood flooring. This material is not actual hardwood. Although the material is not the real thing, it still maintains the same effect and look of real hardwood floors.

You need to make sure that you get all of your materials ahead of time. The more prepared you are up front, the easier your installation is going to be. From there, you will be ready to get started with the installation process. Ensure that you rip up all of the old flooring before you lay down the new flooring.

Make sure that you get rid of all of the sub flooring and the hardware in the floor as well. Take a close look at the nails and glue that might be stuck in the floor. It is important that you rip all of this up so that every surface remains level.

After the floor is ripped up, you are ready to begin the actual installation process. Make sure that you are fitting everything together neatly. The wood that you choose should have time to expand before you lay it down. This can be down by sitting in storage for 2 weeks. Now, this is not going to be a one person job. Make sure that you have a couple of friends that will be able to assist you.

Installing hardwood floors is a lot like putting a puzzle together. Always take the time to pay attention and check all of your work. If you need to fix something, it is important that you catch the problem right away. Once the floor is laid out, you can finish it off and enjoy.

There are four different types of materials used and three different types of hardwood flooring. The materials used are bamboo, parquet, laminated and vinyl while the three types of flooring are parquet, plank or strip.

The parquet allows for amazing geometrical designs to be shown in the floor. The impression is that of lots of small wooden tiles that have been fused together to make art out of wood.

The second and third types, plank and strips, both use long strips of floor boards in order to create their effect. The main difference between the two is that the strips are slightly wider than the planks.

In terms of installing the hardwood, the three varieties of flooring utilize different methods.

When one is using parquet, often a hard and robust glue is used in the hardwood flooring installation process whereas with planks one would screw and nail the plank boards into place. Wooden plugs allow one to cover the screws so that they cannot be seen in the finished product. Installation of the strips is also done by means of nailing the boards into place.

Often when doing hardwood installation, a small gap will be left between two boards. While some think this looks untidy, the gap is of vital importance. The expansion gap, as it is properly known, allows the wood to contract and flex in different environments. For example, if the surrounding environment is quite humid, the wood is able to expand and contract without affecting the boards next to it.

The wood used for hardwood flooring must be graded. Grading the wood is a system used by manufacturers to determine the appearance of the wood. Different parts of the tree produce different shades and colours of wood. The grain pattern of the wood is also determined by the species of tree. For example, an oak tree will produce a different grain pattern to that of a eucalyptus or yellow wood tree.

Once the hardwood flooring installation has been completed, it is important to “finish” the wood. Finishing the wood protects the surface against day to day dirt, traffic and wear and tear. There are two types of finishes, surface finish or penetrating finish.

While wood is a costly choice to make when it comes to flooring, it is the preferred choice of flooring. As mentioned, it provides a certain sense of elegance and warmth and is something that will never date but can be seen more as a classic investment. One is able to add rugs or carpets to the flooring to that can add to the warmth that wooden flooring creates.

While hardwood floor installation types can at times be complex in terms of the right wood to use, the right design to have and the right people for the job, all that effort will pay off when your hardwood floors have been installed and you have added elegance and class to your living or working areas!

Here’s the basic hardwood flooring installation process:

Along the walls perpendicular to the floor joists, mark the joist so that the marks can be seen above the new flooring.

You will need a sturdy subfloor on which to install the hardwood floor. Cover this subfloor with asphalt felt. Most installers choose 15-pound felt and overlap all seems by three inches. The felt is stapled into place using an automatic staple gun.

Find the center of the room width wise and use a chalk-line to snap a center line parallel with the wall from which you intend to start. You will also need to snap lines between the joist marks.

Another line should be snapped about 1/2 inch from the beginning wall but parallel with the center line. The gap gives room for expansion and will not show as it will be concealed by the baseboard molding.

For the first row, you will need to find the longest boards or if your boards vary in width, the widest planks. Close to the wall where nail heads will not show since they will be covered, drill a pilot hole for each finishing nail. These holes should be at 90 degrees to the face of the floor boards. Nail into place at each floor joist. Set the nails below the surface of the board face using a punch or nail set.

Once the first row nailed near the wall the remaining nails will be set in a blind position so they are not seen. This should be done by hand for the first three rows. A pilot hole needs to be drilled through the exposed tongue at a 45 degree angle. These holes should correspond to the chalk line snapped to mark the floor joists and at ten inch intervals. One and one half inch finishing nails are used. These nails also need to be set.

Before nailing the second row or any other row after that, use a small piece of flooring that fits the exposed tongue to fit the boards together using a mallet. Boards should extend more than six inches beyond the end of any adjacent row and not over any joints in the sub flooring. Wide plank flooring may have special instructions for nailing due to expansion.

If you are flooring a large area, a hardwood flooring installation nailer makes the work go quicker. It slips over the tongue of the board being installed and a mallet is used to hit the plunger. A nailer can be used for nails or staples that are up to 2 inches.

For the last row, a block with a pry bar will work to wedge the boards together tightly. Once again you will need to drill holes perpendicular to the face of the board for nailing. Remember that these nails will be covered with baseboard. Once completed you’ll have a quality hardwood flooring installation you can appreciate for years to come.

The very first step to installing hardwood floors is to completely remove your previous flooring. This may be easier said than done. If you had carpeting, you’ll need to remove and roll up your carpet and then remove the padding. This should be easy but be careful of carpet staples and nails; you don’t want to end up injured.

If you are replacing your current hardwood flooring, a little more effort may be involved. Make sure that you have the tools you’ll need ahead of time so you don’t have to stop in the middle of everything to get more equipment. It’s best to jump in and complete the job as soon as possible.

Once you’ve removed all carpet, hardwood flooring or tile or vinyl flooring and have a pure foundation to work with, you can begin preparing the sub floor. Sub floor is usually made of particle board or plywood. Discuss the appropriate sub flooring treatment for your project with a professional where you purchased the hardwood flooring you’re about to install.

Once you have treated the sub flooring, it’s time to snap your chalk line. Remember to give one fourth to one eight of an inch room for expansion. With wood flooring, it’s actually ideal to wait 10-14 days after you’ve gotten the hardwood before you actually begin to lay it. This will give it time to expand and breathe and it will be much easier to know what you’re dealing with ahead of time. Make sure to store your hardwood flooring in an area similar to the room you’ll be laying it in. Don’t store it outside-water will damage and warp the wood.

Once you’ve done this, select the longest, straightest hardwood floor board that you have. It’s best to make sure that the first several boards you use are the biggest and straightest. This will ensure an even, straight floor across the room. How you get the boards to stay in place depends on what kind of flooring you’re using. If you’re using hardwood flooring that came as part of a whole room solution, you may be able to avoid nails and stabilizers.

If you’re using stick down hardwood flooring, things will be much easier with your first endeavor. If you use parquet hardwood flooring, you can glue it directly to the sub flooring. If not, you’ll have to use nails. Whichever way you go, you’ll have a sturdy, beautiful addition to your home in no time at all.

Lay the boards, one after another, side by side. Make sure to vary lengths and use a rubber mallet to tap the slats in every few boards. This will help make sure that you don’t have any gaps. Work from one side of the room to the other until you’ve completed the space. Now you have a beautiful hardwood floor that you can be proud of.

The task of installing hardwood floors requires knowing how to use certain tools as well. For instance, you must know how to successfully level out the floor before applying the actual hardwood floor; and this requires the use of leveling devices. If you’re unable to determine if the surface on which the installation will take place is not level before installing, then you’re not as prepared as you may think you are.

Installing hardwood floors upon non level surfaces can cause serious problems in the future, not to mention delaying the use of that particular room after installation. Also it would be prudent to know how to use a basic chop saw because a time may arise in which a measurement may be inaccurate in a corner, and an adjustment to a piece of the hardwood would be necessary.

Have you ever heard of sub flooring? Well, if you haven’t, now would not be a good time to learn. This is when wood that is used to go down over a concrete floor has to be installed before actual installation of the hardwood floor. The sub flooring is quite necessary for a perfectly level floor to walk on and, unfortunately, it is highly recommended that a professional hardwood floor installer undertake this job.

Why, you may ask? Well, you could experience lots of squeaking and squealing noises when walking on it or – worse case scenario – your entire floor could sag. Running into problems like this happens a lot in older homes with scrappy floors. It is therefore to everyone’s benefit that the expertise of a professional hardwood floor installer is summoned. Their expertise will not go unnoticed once the job is complete.

These are only a few of the obstacles that you may encounter when embarking upon a task as complex as installing hardwood floors. However, if you are knowledgeable with the above mentioned obstacles, then you can always go for it! Why spend more money than you have to if you possess the skills and know-how on hardwood floor installation?

Keep in mind, however, hardwood floors are surely not the only option one has. There’s the option of installing linoleum floors over sub flooring, and the often used ceramic tile floors. If you have the basic knowledge in using a hammer, saw and levels, then you may very well be on your way to becoming a professional hardwood floor installer yourself. Hey, you have to begin somewhere, why not your own home?

Finding a professional hardwood floor installation expert is a click away with your mouse, and if the internet is not your cup-of-tea, then you can always let your fingers do the walking in your local yellow pages.