You have made the choice to install hardwood flooring into your home. More so, you’ve decided to handle the project on your own rather than investing the money on professional contractors. You’re naturally excited (maybe a little nervous) about doing the job properly the very first time; as with any kind of house improvement project that you take on, the more prepared you are, the greater the end result.

Knowing that, we’ll explore some of the methods of the trade. Assuming you want to avoid the labor-intensive “nail and hammer” strategy utilized by installers long ago, you will need to obtain a stapler or nailer to fasten the nails; you’ll furthermore want to make sure you have a proper subfloor in place. We’ll introduce you to these resources and others to help prepare you for the work in front of you.

Determining Whether Or Not You Have A Suitable Subfloor

Often, your finished wood flooring may only be as effective as your subfloor. This is the section that is situated directly underneath your strips, planks, or parquets; your nails can secure the two together. If your subfloor is unacceptable, you can expect your flooring to creak, groan, and pop in the future.

If your subfloor is concrete, make sure it’s dry before laying your wood floors. Dampness may require up to two months to dissipate; if the cement doesn’t dry thoroughly, it can cause difficulties later. Cement is normally used for sub-flooring in houses that don’t have a cellar. Otherwise, wood is utilized.

Aside from being dry, it’s essential that your subfloor is level and of an ideal quality provided the range of wood you are using for the flooring. It is furthermore important that you stay with either concrete or wood

Do not utilize particle board or pressboard; neither are formidable enough to provide the required support for the nails.

How To Secure The Nails

Before nailing gear were driven by compressed air, they required the installer to employ his strength to drive the nails with a hammer

To suggest it was difficult, meticulous work is an understatement. Fortunately, these methods have been all but swapped out with pneumatic nails. Rather than demanding you to strike (with exact aim) the nail so as to fit it in the planks, these air-powered nailers and staplers only require a little tap. The vast majority of the work is handled by the pressurized air.

So, which tool should you use: a pneumatic nailer or a stapler? The solution is dependent on whom you question. A lot of professionals advise that staplers are problematic since they fasten the hardwood floors too tightly against the subfloor. That creates creaking

On the other hand, some people think that staplers fasten the nails more securely than a cleat nailer and thus, perform the job more effectively. Ultimately, you should ask the manufacturer of the wood you are utilizing which fastener is more correct.

Mallets, Nails And Staples

The nails that are placed by pneumatic nailers possess a barb-like slot on their end; when they are powered through the wood board and subflooring, the barbs seize and keep the two levels together

Staples work differently; their ends are cured with a special resin that enhances their grasping ability. Whenever the staples are adjoined by a pneumatic stapler and pushed through the solid wood and subfloor, the resulting rubbing activates the resin and gives it a glue-like quality.

Even though you’re utilizing an air-powered securer, you will have to have a mallet in reach. One side may be made from hardened rubber while the other side is made from metal; the rubber end can be used to right mild bowing in your strips or planks; the metal end is there simply to balance the weight.

Those are the main tools you’ll require to install your hardwood floors. You’ll furthermore need to have glue, a tape measure, and a saw nearby for quick measurements and repairs. Equipped with the above tools, you’re ready to start the installation.

Author Bio: This article was provided by Footprints Floors, a company dedicated to ethical business and hard work. If you need http://www.footprintsfloors.com/ visit them online at http://www.footprintsfloors.com

Category: Real Estate
Keywords: flooring, hardwood, install floors, flooring contractor, diy