Many homeowners rightly consider hardwood floor installation as a wise investment. It is an aesthetic floor installation option that enhances the value of the house with a natural look compared to laminate or concrete flooring. However, hardwood flooring comes with its own set of challenges and considerations, which you need to be aware of to ensure you get value on your money.
Take Plenty of Advice
Start with a contractor and ask plenty of questions. Hardwood flooring installation instructions are very important because the finish of the flooring determines its grandeur. Technology has advanced rapidly and there are plenty of finishing and installation equipments. Refer to sites which will offer you a tip for every important stage. Search results on the Internet should also take you to lot of information sites dedicated purely to hardwood flooring.
The Processes Involved
You need to choose the right hardwood for the floor, based on the cost and the ambiance. Hardwood installation involves several processes like custom staining, sanding, and dust-free finishing. Steps like cork underlayment, base molding installation and sound proofing have to be dealt with by experts with plenty of experience. Keeping environmental concerns in perspective, materials such as modified polyurethane finishes have been prohibited by some States. You need to be aware of such rules too. A good company for hardwood floor installation usually offers 100% warranty on the installation, with the license including craftsmanship for a year.
Hardwood Flooring Materials
There are several varieties of materials including rare ones like chestnut. You can go for golden or red oak, which is hard and durable. Maple with its creamy yellow color is elegant while walnut with its chocolate color is flexible. Cherry has an orange tinge to it and is warm and moisture-resistant. Mahogany is popular for its reddish texture and great natural beauty while pine comes with a pale creamy shade, and can be easily repaired or re-colored.
Installation
There are different installation methods such as floating, glue down and staple down methods. In floating method, a thin pad is placed between the sub-floor and floor and then the planks are fixed firmly. In glue down process, the wooden planks are directly attached to the sub floor. For the staple down method, 2-inch nailing cleats are used with wooden flooring by using nail and hammer for attaching the floor.
Finishing
The finishing is one of the most important steps in installing hardwood flooring. It includes wood preparation followed by rubbing, sanding and scraping to remove scratches and defects. You can then use stains or fillers to be absorbed into the wooden surface. Colorants like dyes or even pigmented stains can be used on the surface of the wood. Ash, with its natural wood color is hard but has pores on its surface. This is where fillers are needed to make the surface smooth. Sealers are used to prevent the water seeping in; glazes and toners are also applied on the hardwood floor to complete the finishing process.
