The bad news is that when you take shortcuts there s plenty that can go wrong.
How to install hardwood floors in tight spaces.
Make sure you ve got the right amount of flooring for your space.
Fortunately most of the problems are easily preventable with a little diligence on the part of the installer.
The good news is that laying wood floors isn t rocket science.
When learning how to install hardwood flooring there are a few tips to keep in mind.
Discover tips for installing hardwood floors or planks.
Snug the boards tight end to end and row to row.
Many flooring professionals maintain that the smoothest finish can be achieved by sanding and finishing a floor on site.
Solid wood floors should not be installed in basements or below grade.
Space the pairs 10 to 12 inches apart and within an inch of each end of each board.
There isn t a wood flooring installer in the business who isn t guilty of taking a shortcut or two on the job site from time to time.
On site finishing allows the builder to custom fit and finish your floor to the space.
They are available in 3 4 inch thickness as well as low profile styles that are 5 16 to 5 8 inch thick which are a good or installing over existing flooring.
Drill pairs of 1 8 inch holes through the faces of the boards.
On the last row cut the pieces to fit measuring the distance from the wall to the board not the tongue minus the expansion gap.
Finish hardwood floor installation when you get to the last few rows switch back to nailing by hand.
Hardwood floors also help cut down on dust mites.
When possible begin installation from the straightest longest wall and install the flooring perpendicular to the floor joists.