You may be surprised to learn how easy wood flooring installation has become. Instead of having to hire a carpenter and pay high labor costs for installation, almost anyone will be able to lay the floor on their own. The easy-to-use floor now comes with a solid factory finish that eliminates the work of sanding and refinishing the floor.
In addition to red oak, which has always been a homeowner’s favorite, hardwood flooring materials are now available in several different colors and textures that will add to the beauty of your home. Selecting the type of flooring you want can actually be the hardest part of the process, because there are so many to choose from. Try looking up numerous types of flooring online, or take a trip to a home improvement store, to get an idea of the different options on the market today.
Prefinished floors can be purchased online or at a trusted store. After the flooring is delivered, you should stack it in the room where you will install it for a few days so that it can adjust to the humidity level of the room. Since moisture will cause the floor to swell, this step is extremely important for a good fit. Also, due to possible expansion, you should leave a half-inch gap between the floor and the walls. Later you will cover the space with baseboard or decorative molding.
When installing flooring, you’ll want to carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions. They will give you a step-by-step procedure that you must follow exactly if you want your floor to look like it was professionally installed. You won’t even have to worry about spacing and summer expansion of the wood, because it already comes micro-beveled to fix the problem.
If you already have hardwood flooring in your home, but it looks old and worn, you can try refinishing it, which will be much cheaper than replacing the flooring entirely. It will take about 3 days to have your refinished floor ready to use again. During the process, keep all doors and windows closed to prevent as much dust from accumulating on the floor as possible. Remove everything from the floor before you begin. After the job is done, you should wait one more day before putting the furniture back on the floor.
Probably the simplest thing you can do to refinish the floors in your home is to install laminate flooring. These floors resist scratches and stains, require little maintenance, and are great if you have areas of heavy traffic or children and pets. Laminate flooring is tongue and groove, so it can be laid to fit very easily.
Take plenty of time to explore the different flooring options available to you before making your final decision. Whether you decide to refinish your existing flooring or replace it with new hardwood or laminate flooring, you’ll find that the latest flooring technology has made it much easier to install without having to hire professional help. Make sure you understand the instructions that come with the product. If you’re not sure about something, be sure to ask before you begin, and your floor will end up looking like a custom job.