Mannington Laminate Flooring Installation
Hardwood flooring installation can be an arduous and time consuming job, but if you feel comfortable giving it a go personally, you can end up saving quite a considerable amount of money. Properly installed hardwoods can last for generations, even under moist and humid conditions, such as in a bathroom. With a little planning and a step by step plan, as well as plenty of time, hardwood flooring installation can be accomplished without expensive professional services.
Moisture is the number one enemy of hardwood flooring. Moisture can eventually lead to the warping and cracking of the surface as it expands and contracts. This does not imply, however, that hardwood flooring cannot be installed in humid conditions. Hardwood flooring simply requires a little preventive care in order to function well under these conditions. Installing hardwood with an asphalt felt should provide a guarantee against rotting and warping of the hardwood. Take 15 pound asphalt felt, and put it over the subfloor in overlapping sections. The felt should be tacked down with a staple gun.
Leave a minor gap, approximately half an inch, between the asphalt felt and the wall. A baseboard or base shoe will be secured in these smaller spaces between the flooring and the wall. The initial three boards of the flooring should be placed by hand. Board lengths are normally random, so portions of the flooring should be placed as a test before nailing down. When the first boards are laid down, the rest can be placed with a flooring nailer. This will make it simpler to do an accurate job of laying out the flooring.
When the new flooring creates an uneven surface, you can employ a reducer to create an even surface. When preparing to install a hardwood floor, be certain to safely store the wood. Storing the wood out in the open where it can get damp will lead to warped and cracked flooring that cannot be installed properly. If the flooring must be stored outdoors, be sure to protect it with a waterproof tarp. This can prevent any moisture from causing permanent damage. Do not transport wood flooring in an open bed when weather conditions could give rise to rain or high humidity.