If no one is available, or they don’t feel comfortable doing this, then it’s a sign that you should trust the experts who specialize in hardwood floor installation.
Part of installing new hardwood floors is assessing the surroundings of where you plan to put it. Although you rarely see them, your home features a level called the subfloor. It helps provide stability between your home’s foundations and the floors that you walk on all day long.
Remove All Flooring Layers
The first step is to pull up the existing floors. You may want some help from a friend or family member when attempting to do this. If no one is available, or they don’t feel comfortable doing this, then it’s a sign that you should trust the experts who specialize in hardwood floor installation. The baseboard also needs to be pulled up to prevent any unexpected gaps from forming when your new hardwood flooring is installed.
Establish Moisture Guards
The next step is to ensure moisture protection. As we’ve indicated before, too much moisture can be just as harmful as not enough for your floors. The moisture barrier you need to use, however, will vary depending on the style of flooring you want to have installed. It may come as a surprise, but not all hardwood flooring is created equal! For instance, floating hardwood floors will need plastic guards. For nailed floors, the guards must protect both the floor and the subfloor, especially since you don’t want anything to happen to your concrete! Finally, glued hardwood floors will require the heaviest protection, mainly because the floors and subfloors are glued together and have no other barriers in between them.
Put Down the Flooring
Several different methods for laying down hardwood flooring can help speed up the process. Floating floorboards will not call for any adhesive, which already makes your life easier! Since floating floorboards click together, you can focus on other important tasks, such as making final measurements to determine the dimensions of the room. Foam layers can help muffle excessive noise and make walking on the hardwood less painful. For conventional floorboards, you will have to use adhesive. Start from the back of the room and work your way towards the door. Take it slow and don’t use too much adhesive solution all at once. It will need at least a full day to dry before you can install the hardwood over the concrete subfloor.
Ready for a Beautiful Hardwood Floor? Trust John K Eareckson & Co.
When you work with John K Eareckson & Co., Flooring, we will ensure your hardwood floors undergo a stress-free acclimation process and that they sparkle for years to come; from a seamless and beautiful installation to years of maintenance, John K Eareckson & Co. Flooring has the expertise to care for your home’s hardwood floors. For a consultation and more information, visit us online or give us a call at 410-788-4200. You can also look for us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.