By Caitlina Fuller
Do it Yourself
Adding brand new flooring to your home is a terrific way to transform your home’s interior and with the correct hardwood flooring tools and some basic direction, the task can be done by any homeowner who is a bit handy.
Concerning which type of wood flooring to go with, you have many choices to consider. If you would like something other than a common pine floor, perhaps some of the more exotic types of wood such as Brazilian Eurcalyptus, Gingerwood or Cocobola would interest you. Many people today are choosing bamboo wood flooring due to it being very eco-friendly and easy to care for and because it is similar in strength to hardwoods.
Once you have the flooring type chosen, it is time to begin. In order to ensure that your new flooring does not squeak, you should lay a layer of rosin paper on top of the sub floor so that wood-on-wood noise is prevented. Instead of nailing the floor down as you go, you may wish to consider laying out the floor first so that you can plan for the use of the longest pieces and be ready for any problems. It is always a good idea to do a ‘dry-on’ as mistakes can easily be made. The nice thing about wood flooring is that it is easy to cut compared to tile floors that require a wet saw tile cutter. Once you have pieced the floor together, being the process of attaching it to the sub floor.
You should lay the long pieces first and nail them into place. Take extra care when laying the very first piece because if not laid straight, it could cause all of the others to be out of alignment. Once the majority of the floor is laid, you now can begin to size and nail the shorter pieces around door jams or any other obstacles there may be. It is always best to purchase more wood than you think you need as even the best floor installers make mistakes when puzzling the last portion of the floor together. Remember to nail the boards tightly and keep the back loose. Using a pneumatic nail gun that hides the nails in the tongue of the board is recommended.
Once done, give the floor at least three days to acclimate to the temperature and humidity level of your home and do not be tempted to move furniture into the room until this ‘settling’ period is over. Laying your own flooring is very rewarding and sure to save you hundreds of dollars, if not more and it should last for many years if cared for properly.
About the author:
Caitlina is a freelance writer.
