Hardwood flooring installation can be an arduous and sometimes complicated task, but if you feel confident giving it a go personally, you may potentially end up saving quite a bit of money. Properly installed hardwoods can last for generations, even under wet and humid circumstances, such as in a bathroom. With a little planning and a step by step plan, as well as plenty of time, hardwood flooring installation can be done without exorbitant professional services.
Moisture causes the most damage to hardwood flooring. Moisture can gradually warp the surface of the wood as it expands and contracts. This does not imply, however, that hardwood flooring installation cannot be done under wetter circumstances. Hardwood flooring simply requires a little preventive care in order to function well under these conditions. Installing hardwood with an asphalt felt should provide a guarantee against rotting and warping of the hardwood. Take 15 pound asphalt felt, and put it over the subfloor in overlapping sections. The felt should be secured with a staple gun.
Leave a small gap, around half an inch, between the asphalt felt and the wall. A baseboard or base shoe will be secured in these smaller spaces between the flooring and the wall. The first three boards of the flooring should be placed by hand. Board lengths are normally random, so portions of the flooring should be set out as a test before nailing down. When the first boards are laid down, the rest can be put out with a flooring nailer. This will make it simpler to do an accurate job on the hardwood flooring installation.
When the new flooring results in an uneven surface, you can employ a reducer to create an even meeting point. When getting ready to undertake hardwood flooring installation, be sure to safely store the wood. Storing the wood out in the open where it can get damp will lead to uneven flooring that cannot be installed properly. If the flooring must be stored outdoors, be sure to cover it with a waterproof tarp. This can prevent any moisture from causing permanent damage. Do not transport wood flooring in an open bed when weather conditions could give rise to rain or high humidity.