Installing your own hardwood floors
Written by No Doubt Marketing
There is little argument that hardwood floors are attractive, functional, easy to care for and increases the value of any home. There are three types of hardwood floors;
- Solid: Solid constructed wood floor products
- Engineered: This wood flooring is constructed in several layers with the grain alternating giving it more stability and durability.
- Acrylic Impregnated: Wood grain floor products that have been injected with an acrylic material that makes it very hard and durable. These come in various colors and patterns. They are most often used in high traffic places like malls but can be for home use too.
There are also three styles of hardwood floors; strip, plank and parquet. For a hardwood floor to have the beauty it was intended, it must be installed properly. There are some ambitious do-it-yourselfers who take on this meticulous and somewhat difficult task. Remember that with this type of flooring, mistakes will be extremely easy to spot and will effect the overall look of your flooring. Can you install your own flooring? Yes, you can. Should you install your own hardwood flooring? This is probably not a good idea. If you have chosen hardwood flooring you have probably done so because of the combination of the durability and the beauty of the flooring. Installing this type of flooring is not a quickly done job nor is it a particularly easy one. Care much be taken that exact measurements are used and the floor boards line up in the way they are intended. Your best bet would be to hire a qualified contractor to do the job for you. Set a budget and find a contractor within that budget. Many times the place you buy the flooring offers installation for free or a greatly reduced price.
Hardwood floors are one reason older homes sell so well. There is a quality assumed about a home that has hardwood flooring and it also gives a sophisticated yet “homey” feel to any home. If you have decided on getting hardwood flooring you will first have to choose the style, type and color that best suits your expectations. There are many different combinations and it can be enjoyable picking out your hardwood flooring. Once you have the flooring bought you will need to know if you are going to install it yourself or hire a contractor. If you do decide to install the flooring yourself there are four methods for doing so. They are nail down, staple down, glue down and floating. By far, the easiest method for do it yourselfers is floating. You can even purchase the pieces that snap together. However for a long lasting, quality and beautiful wood floor it is best to have it installed professionally so you know it will come out looking the way it is intended to look.
