3 Hardwood Flooring Installation Methods Compared

When renovating your home floors to hardwood flooring, there are two substantial savings opportunities to be made. The first saving opportunity to be made is buying the actual floor online and the second saving opportunity to be made is installing the new floor yourself. If you are comfortable with general do it yourself projects, you might also be able to fit your new floor yourself provided you have the time, the will and the right instructions. There are three main methods of fitting hardwood floors, each requires slightly different skill set and time.

Which Method Should I Use:

In order to know which installation to use you need to look at the type of subfloor you bought. It is very important to choose the right subfloor matter as it can directly influence which method of installation needed and the overall quality of your wood flooring. There are three common categories for subflooring. Concrete / Cement Screed, Wooden-Plywood / Chipboards and Floor Joist / Battens. Each is suitable for either solid or engineered floor and for each there is at least one recommended installation method
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3 Hardwood Flooring Installation Methods Compared:

1. Floating Installation: This type of Installation method is recommended for engineered hardwood floors when any of the 3 types of subflooring is used. Floating Installation is the easiest DIY installation method because it requires the least amount of skill or prior experience in installing floors for the newbie builder. In a nutshell, floating installation is when you PVA glue the tongue and groove together.

2. Glue Down Installation: This type of Installation method is recommended for solid floors when any of the 3 types of subflooring is used and for engineered hardwood floors when concrete or wooden-plywood is used. Glue-down installation requires the use of a bonding agent or adhesives applied directly onto the subfloor and can be laid onto both concrete and wooden subfloors (Note: always read the health and safety recommendations when working with chemical agents).

3. Nail-down Installation: This type of installation method is recommended for solid floors when concrete or wooden-plywood is used. Nail-down installation requires certain skill set and level of prior knowledge so it is only advised if you have a wood subfloor and plenty of time to focus on the work. Generally, people regard nail-down installation as being very exacting and time-consuming. It requires you to use specific tools and equipment, which can be hard to find for a DIY job.

What Preparation Steps Should I Take:

1. Make sure the room is completely free of any obstacles such as your old carpet or wooden floors so you can concentrate on installing rather than moving furniture around.

2. Ensure the surface is clean from any debris and other reminisce of the previous floor.
3. If working with agents ensure the room is aired and that you have red the health and safety information on the product.

4. Educate yourself on the type of installation most suitable for your floor by reading a how-to guide or watching an installation video.

By: Michelle Strassburg

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Michelle Strassburg is Head of marketing and sale of hardwood flooring online seller wood and beyond. Sellers of high quality wooden floors, real oak flooring, decking and worktops