How To Install Hardwood Floor Borders

Download Article

Download Commodity

Hardwood floors can add value to your domicile and give it a cute look. Wood floors are longer lasting and more applied than many other types of floor. Installing hardwood floors on your ain tin can exist washed. Hither are the steps that volition teach you how to install hard wood flooring.

one
Consider solid hardwood. Solid hardwoods have been the traditionally used material in flooring for some fourth dimension now. They will give a room an elegant, old-world look and for good reason: solid hardwood floors last a long time. They can be sanded and refinished many times, giving them a much longer lifespan than other types of forest flooring. However, considerations must be made as hardwoods are very susceptible to changes in wet level.^[1]
- Solid hardwood floors tin can only be placed in specific areas, because of their reactions to moisture. They cannot be used in bathrooms or in basements. Prepare accordingly.
- Floors like these will besides demand installation considerations. Solid hardwoods will need to be nailed into place, which means that a wood subfloor is required. If you do not or cannot provide this, you will need to consider other options.
2
Consider engineered wood. If solid hardwoods are non an option but you would similar to take a similar look, consider engineered wood. This wood is similar to what is used to construct many types of modern piece of furniture, and can be used anywhere in your abode as it is not afflicted by moisture every bit much. It will provide a sleeker, more modernistic feel and appearance to a room.^[2]
- It is also possible to mucilage boards such as this. Nonetheless, the surface they are applied to must be absolutely flat and perfectly clean, so it is not necessarily recommended.
Advertisement

1
Set up your subfloor. You will need your subfloor to be ready for laying down hardwood floors. This tutorial focuses on installing solid hardwoods, so you will desire a wood subfloor if yous want to follow the directions exactly. Other options are available, however.^[3]
- Don't forget to consider things similar door jambs also. You lot will demand to exist able to either get your floors underneath the molding or you will demand to cut your flooring to go around it.
2

Allow your forest acclimate. Before you install solid hardwood floors, you will demand to let the forest acclimate to the wet level of your dwelling get-go. Leave the wood to sit down in the room in which it volition be installed for at to the lowest degree three days. Attempt to install the floor during either the Spring or Fall, when the temperature is neither very hot nor very cold. Temperature will likewise affect the wood.
iii

Gather tools. A larger number of tools and supplies will be necessary to consummate this project. Yous can hire larger pieces, like flooring nailers, from your local hardware store. Other pieces, like nails, will need to exist purchased. You lot can find the materials list for this project at the bottom of this page.

Advertisement

1
Lay downward the first board, tongued-edge facing out into the room. The board should leave a small gap at the wall for expansion (check manufacturer'south recommendation) and be placed in line with the room (so consider measuring guidelines). Place spacers in the gap.^[four]
- Guidelines can exist placed by finding the center point of each wall and mark a line between them, creating a cantankerous at the centre of the room. Where one of these lines meets with the wall, marking the manufacturer'south recommended expansion altitude and then depict a line at that indicate which is perpendicular to the center line.
two

Nail the boards to the subfloor. Use the drill to brand guide holes and then, using a hammer, nail the board into the subfloor with nails placed 1-3" from the end of the plank, ½" from the groove side, and every half-dozen inches downward the board. Use a blast set to finish.^[five]
3

Lock your boards together. When the showtime row is done, place the next lath so that the tongue of the start fits into the groove. You lot will want to place the boards so that they are get-go, beginning six inches or so from the catastrophe of the previous board. Use a mallet and borer cake to tap the boards together and create a tight seam.^[6]
4

Proceed until you have completed iii rows. You will boom the first three rows just equally described in Step 2.
v

Remember to cut boards to size. Since y'all are staggering boards, you volition likely need to cut boards in order to fit in the gaps at the finish. Measure the distance that it needs to be, keeping the expansion gap in heed, and then (with the board face-down) cut it using a saw.^[7]
half dozen

Brainstorm laying rows with the flooring nailer. One time you have plenty space, y'all should begin using the floor nailer (though you could technically do the entire floor with the hammer and nails). Only align it with the board to be nailed and and then striking information technology.
seven

Use a hammer for the last few rows. You will eventually run out of room to use the floor nailer. Hammer the terminal few rows the same way yous did the first ones.
8

Cutting the final board to size. If it does not fit properly, you will need to cut the final lath so that it is narrow enough to fit. Measure advisedly and apply a circular or miter saw to cut the boards to size.
ix

Place the last boards using the crowbar. Since you will not have plenty space to tap them with the mallet, employ a crowbar instead to wedge them into identify. You are now ready to stop your floor.^[8]

Advertisement

1

Add baseboards. In one case the floor is in identify, you tin add some type of baseboard trim, usually a type of molding, where the floor meets the wall. What type of baseboard you choose is up to you and will depend on your needs too equally the design of the room.^[nine]
ii

Add trim and transitions. Add trim and transitions anywhere where your floor does non meet up with your wall, such every bit doorways or a section of the room with different flooring covering. Trim and transitions should be cut to size and installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. This is commonly a very unproblematic process.
three

Use putty to cover holes. If you wish to, yous can comprehend the holes created by the nails with boom putty. This may be a skillful idea, as such holes can collect dirt and other undesirable material. Exist sure to become putty in the color of the wood you are using for the floors, as this will help in blend in.

Expert TIP

"To maintain your wood floors, vacuum them weekly, dry mop them every two weeks, and damp mop monthly."

Chris Willatt

Business firm Cleaning Professional person

Chris Willatt is the possessor and founder of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency in Denver, Colorado started in 2022. Alpine Maids has received Angie'due south Listing Super Service Award for 3 years in a row since 2022 and has been awarded Colorado'southward "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2022.

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional person

Advertisement

Add New Question

Question

Should expansion gaps be left at the perpendicular edges every bit well?

No. Woods flooring will just expand in the management of the width of the boards, not the length.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to go a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advert

Video

Be sure that before you begin laying the boards, y'all mix boards from dissimilar boxes. This volition proceed your floor from appearing to exist colour-blocked, if there are variations in the color betwixt boxes. Another pick would exist to use unfinished wood and stain information technology when you are done.

Advert

Things You'll Need

iii/4" solid hardwood flooring planks
Transitions and baseboard molding
Drill and appropriate drill $.25
Hammer and nail set
Nails and finishing nails.
Spacers
Mallet and tapping block
Pry bar
Measuring tools
Circular or miter saw (maybe)
Flooring nailer (technically optional simply definitely recommended). Be sure it has a protective kick as one without tin cause damage to your new wood floors.
Woods putty (optional)
Condom equipment, such as eye coverings and knee pads

About This Article

Commodity Summary X

To install hardwood flooring, start by laying the first boards against the wall, and then nailing them downwards to the subfloor by placing a nail every six inches. When yous finish the first row, fit the natural language into the grooves of the boards in the adjacent row and use a mallet to tap them together tightly. Once you've laid and nailed downwards the start 3 rows, continue adding rows, but secure them with flooring nailer instead of a hammer and nails. Then, cut the final row of boards to fit and use a crowbar to wedge them into place. For tips on how to add finishing touches, such as baseboards and trim, read on!

Did this summary help you?

Cheers to all authors for creating a folio that has been read 64,246 times.