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.

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.