In this article, we’ll take a look at how to lay hardwood floors in six steps that you can follow yourself. If you’ve followed my other article on how to lay laminate flooring, then many of the steps are very similar, but there are a few differences when it comes to laying a hardwood floor. If you’re nervous about laying hardwood floors and about your general DIY skill level, don’t be afraid to ask a more experienced friend if they can help. Technological advances in wood flooring mean that the products are of higher quality and also easier to install.
Before we begin our guide on how to lay hardwood floors, you’ll need to make sure your hardwood floor has been left in the room you plan to install it in for at least 48 hours before beginning the laying process. This is an important step since the boards themselves are made of a natural material, they must be allowed to acclimate to the new ambient temperature and humidity levels they will be exposed to. As the joints adjust to the new environment, they will expand or contract accordingly. You should also make sure to clean the subfloor thoroughly to remove dirt and small particles that can cause problems when you lay the hardwood floor.
Let’s get started and begin our guide on how to lay hardwood floors:
Step 1: Tools for the Job
- a panel saw or an electric saw (for example, a circular saw)
- tile spacers
- safety glasses
- a hammer
- a pencil
- squad
- kneepads
- Scotch tape
- a sharp craft knife
- tapping block
- a draw bar
- self-adhesive base
Step 2 – How to measure your hardwood floor
To calculate how much hardwood flooring you’ll need for your project, you’ll need to measure your space to calculate the total squared area that needs to be covered. Hardwood floors come in various sized packages depending on the variety you purchase, and these packages tell you both the dimensions of the board and the overall coverage that can be achieved per package. To calculate how many packages of hardwood flooring are needed for your project, first measure the width of your room and the length. Multiply these numbers together to get the total size of your area. Awkward rooms can sometimes be difficult to measure, but the best way to try to overcome this is to try to divide the area into smaller spaces that can be squared off and then add up the individual area sizes of these squares. To calculate how many hardwood flooring packages you will need, take the total size of your area (this should be in the same units as used in the hardwood flooring package) and divide this number by the total area covered in one package. of wooden boards.
It is highly recommended that you purchase at least ten percent more boards than you have estimated you will need for your project. This is to avoid running out of boards in the middle of your projects in case of errors or bad measurements.
Step 3 – Mark Your Hardwood Floor
Unlike when you lay a tile floor, you don’t need to mark the position of each plank of wood you lay. However, it is recommended that you lay a test row before you start installing the self-adhesive base. This is to help determine the direction and position in which you will begin laying the flooring, and also to help estimate how many end-of-row boards you will need to cut when you arrive. A good tip is to start laying the wooden floor in the brightest part of the room. You should try to avoid a design that requires you to cut more than 50% of the depth of the boards at the end of the row, or less than 400mm of the width of the boards.
Step 4 – Attaching a Self-Adhesive Base
We will install a ‘floating floor’ through the methods used in this tutorial. This means that technically the new wooden floor is not fixed directly to the old subfloor. This is a very common, efficient, and perfectly effective way to install hardwood floors. With this in mind, start laying the base with the shiny side facing up. This is because the shiny side is the one with the adhesive. Make sure you have the spacers in place and that you are laying the rolls at a 90-degree angle to how you will be laying the laminate boards; this is to prevent the joints between the base pieces from always corresponding to the joints between the wooden floor piece. As you lay down the base, make sure there are no gaps or overlaps between the sections, as either of these could cause the wooden boards to sag or lift. The goal here is a nice, consistent surface. Tape the seams between the sections with a bit of masking tape to hold them in place.
Step 5 – Laying Hardwood Floors
Using the layout you established earlier, start by removing a section of the protective film on the base about half the width of a wooden board. Then gently lay your first board in place (making sure your spacers are still in place). If you are satisfied with the position of the first board, remove more protective film to fully expose the board to the adhesive. In the same way, you can continue across the room, gradually peeling off the cling film as you go.
Most hardwood floors feature a tongue-and-groove trim profile. These boards should fit together easily and can be joined by inserting the new board at a 45-degree angle to the old one, then snapping it into place as you lower it. You can use your bump block or pull bar to further encourage the boards into place if needed.
The boards at the end of the row can be cut using the saw you have available and marking the board where the cut is to be made. Take care to cut the board in the correct direction, as different saws can damage the top or bottom of the wood. Remember to wear your safety glasses while doing this.
Step 6 – apply the final touches
It is recommended to wait at least 48 hours before applying any finishing touches to your floor, such as moldings or plaid. This will allow the floor to settle more.
Use a miter box to help cut your trim and scotch at an angle. Transition bars can also be used where your new floor meets a doorway or different floor surface.
Congratulations! Now you know how to lay wooden flooring!