Hardwood Installation for Your Home

There is no doubt that hardwood floors are classic. They lend beauty and class to any room from kitchens to living rooms to bathrooms and are known for their long-lasting quality. More coveted that any other flooring material from carpeting to marble tile, it also pays off when it’s time to sell your home.

Hardwood Preparation

Hardwood planks will usually need to sit for some time inside your home prior to installation in order to adjust to the moisture level in your home, so they won’t warp after they are installed. During the installation, boards will also need to be cut to size and fitted for edges and corners.

Room Preparation for Hardwood Installation

Talk with your contractor about who will remove and replace appliances such as the stove, refrigerator, pedestal sink, and so on. You can save money by doing this yourself, but be careful to lay down plywood when replacing them, so that you don’t damage your new floor. Moldings will need to be removed before installation as well; many homeowners find that this is a good time to upgrade these flooring accents. You may also need to shave the bottoms of doors, as new flooring may add height to existing floors.

Sub-Flooring Preparation for Hardwood Installation

Another variable in hardwood installation is the preparation of the sub-floor. Your current floors may be uneven or worn, meaning leveling or patching will be needed and sometimes, a new wood level will need to be laid down. These fixes will cost more, but will also extend the life of your floor dramatically. In general, the sub-floor must be clean, sanded smooth, structurally sound (any loose areas are nailed or screwed down), and tested for dryness.

Hardwood Installation Costs

• Hardwood flooring costs vary depending on the material and system you choose. Some wood species are rarer than others; exotic hardwoods will cost more than common varieties.
• When shopping around, be sure to ask about the installation method required and how this method will affect the overall cost. Some hardwood systems are more labor-intensive than others.
• One thing you can be sure of is that the size of your room directly affects the total cost; the larger the area is, the higher the price.

Hardwood Manufacturers and Flooring Contractors

To install hardwood flooring, you’ll need to find the best value from various hardwood flooring manufacturers and a local flooring contractor you can trust for first-rate installation. Don’t confuse the two. Hardwood flooring manufacturers may know everything about their product, but they won’t know everything about your home.

Likewise, flooring contractors tend to have relationships with specific manufacturers. These connections can be valuable in obtaining the best price for the flooring, but they may also create tunnel-vision when choosing your product. Hopefully, you already know that you should get at least three estimates from local flooring contractors, but this is a sound philosophy when choosing your hardwood flooring materials, too.

Hardwood Flooring Drawbacks

Yet, no floor is perfect, and hardwood is no exception. One of the few drawbacks is the need for professional hardwood installation. From acclimating wood planks to your home’s moisture level to creating a hardwood flooring overlay, hardwood installation is a technical process that directly translates into the life expectancy of the final product.

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