Whether you’re looking to upgrade your living room, bedroom or dining area with solid wood flooring, it can add value to your home and give the space a fresh new look. There are a number of things to consider before you can get started, including the type of wood and construction and finishing. Solid wood floors can be glued down or secret-nailed into place and can be laid over concrete or a wood subfloor. You may also want to consider if you would like your floor to be prefinished or on-site finished, which can affect the cost.
The first step is to determine the dimensions of your space and what type of installation method is required. If you’re laying over concrete, it’s best to lay a plywood base before installing the solid wood flooring installation. This will help prevent moisture from damaging the floor. You can purchase a ready-to-use underlayment from your hardwood flooring distributor, or you can use plywood cut to size from the lumberyard. Solid wood should never be installed over a sanded or painted surface, as the residual solvents from these products can prohibit a proper bond with adhesives used in the flooring system.
You’ll also need to decide on the type of wood you want and if you prefer it to be natural or stained. A variety of finishes are available, from water-based polyurethane to oil-based wax. The finish will influence the color, sheen and durability of your flooring, so it’s important to choose a product that is right for your environment.
If you’re planning on on-site finishing, it’s a good idea to order 5% to 10% more material than you think you’ll need. This will cover any losses due to trimming or the occasional miscut. In addition, it’s wise to have a professional move your furniture to a safe storage location before the start of the project. This will save you the hassle of moving it yourself and will keep your furniture out of harm’s way during renovations.
Before you begin laying your solid wood floor, it’s important to read the manufacturer’s installation instructions. You’ll need to acclimate the flooring for at least 7 days, which will allow it to adjust to the temperature of the room where it will be installed. It’s also a good idea to test the subfloor for moisture before you begin.
After the acclimatization period, you’ll begin by laying the longest boards parallel to the longest wall in the room. This will help ensure that the direction of greatest potential expansion across width and grain doesn’t coincide with walls, doorways or other obstacles. Then, measure the distance between the second to last row of planks and the adjacent wall, and cut pieces to fit factoring in the expansion gap. Face-nail them into place and fill all nail holes with wood putty. Once your flooring is in place, you can replace the baseboard moulding and shoe moulding.