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How To Install Hardwood Flooring

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Learn the basic steps to follow when installing hardwood flooring

Wood flooring is one of the easiest types of floors to install. While other floors require mortar, stretching or floor­size patterns, you can install hardwood flooring flooring with tools you are familiar with: , saws and . Installing hardwood flooring is a great way to save money on your project. Another great way to cut cost is by renting the tools you’ll need to get the job done.

Before you install hardwood flooring:

• Install on or above grade, not below grade. • Leave to acclimate in the room you’re installing it in for five days prior to installation, at temperatures of 65°F to 75°F. • Stack flooring log­cabin style or just spread it around the room, but not directly on concrete. • If you will be installing the floor yourself, use a set of guns to speed up the process. If you don’t already have a flooring nailer, you can usually rent one at your local Home Depot store. • Make sure you have an acceptable subfloor: ¾­inch CDX plywood is preferred and ¾­inch OSB is acceptable. Minimum 5/8­inch CDX existing wood floor or tongue­and­groove solid wood subfloor is also acceptable.

Safety:

• Use caution when handling floor nail guns. • Use knee pads to make installation more comfortable.

WHAT YOU NEED FOR THIS PROJECT Broom Tape measure

Chalkline Jamb saw Drill bits

Hammer Nail set

Flooring nailer Pry bar Mallet Nail gun

Hardwood flooring Barbed flooring nails TOOLS

Broom Tape measure Chalkline Jamb saw Drill Drill bits Nail set Table saw Jigsaw Flooring nailer Pry bar Mallet Nail gun

MATERIALS

Hardwood flooring Barbed flooring nails

1 LAY OUT THE FIRST ROW

Mark the walls to show the location of the floor joists. Cover the floor with 15­pound felt paper. For strength, run the strip flooring perpendicular to the joists. Start your layout at the longest uninterrupted wall that is perpendicular to the joists. At each end of the wall, measure out the width of a floorboard, plus 3/4 inches, and make a mark. Drive nails into the marks and stretch mason's line between them to lay out the first row. 2 PRE­DRILL HOLES FOR NAILS

The first and last rows of flooring have to be nailed through the face of the boards. All the other boards are nailed through the tongue only. To prevent splitting face­nailed boards, drill 1/16­inch­diameter holes for the nails, 1 inch from the grooved edge. Space the holes so the nails hit a joist or as directed by the manufacturer. 3 FASTEN THE FIRST BOARD

Align the first board with the layout line, with the tongue facing into the room. Put a 3/4­inch spacer against the adjoining wall, and slide the end of the board against it. Drive 6d or 8d flooring nails through the pilot holes and then drill additional pilot holes through the tongue. Countersink all the nails. 4 CONTINUE THE FIRST ROW

Put the next board in place along the layout line. Seat the end tongue and groove into each other and push the two boards together for a tight seam. Nail down the board, moving down the row until you reach the side wall. Cut the last length to fit, leaving a 3/4­inch expansion gap and nail it in place. 5 RACK THE FLOORING

Spread the boards from several bundles across the room. Mix bundles and mix shades, colors and lengths, using the natural variety in the wood to create a random pattern. Lay out the boards in the order you will install them. Pros call this "racking the boards." Flooring bundles tend to be uniform in color and if you don’t rack them, you will create noticeable light and dark areas in the floor. Make sure you finish the process by arranging the joints so they are sufficiently offset across the floor.