Table of Contents
What is the best installation method for hardwood floors?
Installation Methods Nail Down – Nails are used to fasten the wood to the subfloor. Staple Down – Staples are used instead of nails to attach the floor to the subfloor. Glue Down – Engineered wood floors and parquets can be glued down. Floating – This is the fastest and easiest method of installation.
Does it matter which way you lay hardwood flooring?
Wood floors should always be laid perpendicular to floor joists—across rather that in between them. This will make the floors structurally sound and will help prevent the planks from separating, sagging or buckling. So, there is no right or wrong way to lay your wood flooring.
What do you put under hardwood flooring?
Simply put, underlayment is a layer of material between your subfloor and your floor. While some flooring comes with the underlayment attached, others will require you to install a separate underlayment. Most of the time, underlayment consists of rubber, cork, foam, or felt.
Do you nail the tongue or groove?
For tongue-and-groove flooring, drive a nail at a 45-degree angle through the tongue, then conceal it by engaging the groove of the next board. Be sure to countersink the nail — drive it slightly below the surface of the wood — to prevent interference in the joint.
How much does it cost to install 1000 square feet of hardwood floors?
On average, wood flooring costs between $3 and $7 per square foot for materials and $3 to $5 per square foot for labor. An estimate for installation of 1000 square feet of hardwood flooring runs between $6,000 and $12,000.
Which direction should hardwood floors be laid in a hallway?
Whenever you are placing wood flooring in a hallway or any long and narrow area, it should run in the direction away from the doorway.
Can I install hardwood floor parallel to joists?
Hardwood floors that are installed parallel to the joists will eventually sag between those joists; if you insist on changing the recommended floor direction, add a minimum ½” nominal plywood underlayment to the existing subfloor.
What side of wood floor do you nail?
Begin your nailing from the left side of the room and always do your nailing from left to right across the floor. Use a rubber mallet to tap the boards tightly into place. To nail your flooring, strike the plunger at the top of the nailer with the rubber mallet.
How do you get a straight line when laying a floor?
Tie one end of a chalk line to one of the nails. Stretch the line across the room and loop the other side of it around the other nail. You should now have a chalk line running parallel to your starting wall. Snap the chalk line, leaving a straight chalk mark on the subfloor.
How far apart should I nail hardwood flooring?
Place at least two nails in every board — the rule of thumb is to nail every 10 to 12 inches. Flooring is typically bundled in random lengths. Vary board lengths as you install so you will have staggered end-joints in a random pattern (image 6).
Do I need tar paper under hardwood floor?
black felt paper is rolled out over the wood subfloor prior to installing the new floor. This hardwood felt paper is necessary to greatly reduce the chance of any moisture coming up through the subfloor and will help protect the new hardwood flooring.
Do need padding under hardwood floor?
Hardwood floors do not require underlayment padding, but they may squeak and creak if you place the surface boards directly against the underlayment. Wood-against-wood friction is one of the most common reasons behind floor creaks.
What goes between subfloor and hardwood?
Underlayment is the layer of material that sits between the subfloor and the new hardwood flooring. Subflooring is a layer of plywood or engineered wood that sits at the very bottom layer of the flooring.
How tight should tongue and groove be?
All it takes is 1⁄8″. The joint should be a firm press fit: If you have to knock the pieces together, then struggle to pull them apart, the joint’s too tight. A tongue that’s a hair too fat for the groove may actually seat, but it will stress the groove sidewalls and may, in time, prompt them to split.
Should you glue tongue and groove?
The recommended glue for floating installation is Tongue and Groove engineered flooring glue. Glue placement is very important. The glue must be placed along the topside of the groove the full length of the grooved side and end.
Can you use wood glue for hardwood floors?
Urethane Wood Floor Glue This type of wooden floor adhesive is the most popular glue used for securing your hardwood flooring. The benefit of using urethane glue is that it is designed to be very flexible when dry.
Can 3/4 hardwood be glued down?
No, 3/4 solid Hardwood flooring can expand and contract more than engineered wood flooring. I would not suggest direct gluing down any 3/4-inch thick solid Hardwood flooring to any surface, the adhesive bond might not allow the solid wood flooring to move or breath normally and can cause the wood flooring to distort.
Should floorboards be staggered?
Staggering the boards It is important, both from a visually appealing perspective and structural one, to stagger the floor boards when you lay them. This ensures you get a beautiful looking floor, without any gaps developing. Having a random, irregular pattern will look fantastic in any home, without looking messy.
Why are floors staggered?
Why you should stagger laminate flooring A floating floor that is not adequately staggered will look odd, and not have the strength and structural stability of a properly laid laminate floor. This is because you create areas of your floor that are more likely to move as a single unit.
How long before you can walk on hardwood floors?
We recommend waiting 6 hours before walking on your new floors in socks. After 24 hours you can walk through with shoes on. Allow 48 hours before setting furniture and returning pets.
