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.

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.