Hardwood flooring installation instructions will allow you to install flooring yourself the right way

Firm hardwood flooring always looks beautiful. It is not only elegant but also durable and comfortable. However, installing hardwood floors are not that easy. There is numerous hardwood flooring installation instructions that you must keep in mind. You should follow these flooring installation instructions for your own benefit.

Step One Choosing the Wood
Hardwood flooring installation instruction would give you a clear idea where you are standing. Your first step would be choosing the wood. You can go for naturally harvested floorboards or even Factory-finished flooring. The latter is increasingly being accepted all over. Consult the lumber people for better information and suggestions.

Step Two Remove the Old Floor Coverings
Clean and remove the old floor coverings, fastenings, shoe molds and trims. If you are planning to reuse the trims then keep it in good condition. Make the whole space clean and dust free, if possible, with a vacuum cleaner.

Step Three Check the Sub-Floor
Check the condition of the sub-floor. Immediately repair the portion that squeak or sag while you walk on it. The fasteners should be placed six inches apart. Use ring-shank nails or flat-head screws. Sand the bumps, if you feel any.

Step Four Laying Down the Flooring
Lay down the floors so they run in perpendicular or diagonal to the direction of the joist. Measure the wall-to-wall floorings. For parallel walls, adjust your starter board according to the need. Make sure you keep at inch of gap between floorboards and the wall, trim and baseboard. This space is for the contraction and expansion of the floorboards.

Step Five Final Installation
While you install the wooden floors, see that the tongues are positioned in the same direction using flooring cleat nails to secure tongues. Nail the blocks in such a way that they can be pulled easily but will not move sideways. Make sure the boards adjust to each other. When the other installations are complete, install the shoe molds. You can fill the small countersink holes with good putty to level and finish. You can also add colors to match the putty.

Other Flooring Fittings
Check with your flooring supplier about the details of the wood you are taking. In addition, pre-made pieces like thresholds and stair nosing are also available these days. Your flooring supplier would provide you with these special fittings if you instruct them. Lastly remember to ask your lumber supplier whether they accept unused pieces of wooden boards or not.