How to Install A Locking Hard Wood Floor?

One sure shot way of adding beauty and warmth to your home is by opting to install hardwood flooring. It not only adds beauty to your home but also increases your home value. Traditional hard wood floors are very difficult to install and would mostly require a professional to do that for you; but, when it comes to installing a locking hardwood floor, it is relatively much easier and any layman can also do the job if he follows the instructions carefully.

Following are step by step instructions on how to install a locking hard wood floor yourself.

Instructions

1. The first and most important step to install the flooring would be to measure the area you would be laying the hard wood floor on.  It is wise to double-check the measurements taken against the quantity of hard wood flooring that you have purchased.

2. Before you start with laying the floor, it is very important that you vacuum or sweep the sub-floor in order to make sure that your working space is completely clean.

3. As the next step, you should draw a chalk line where the 1^st row of hardwood flooring would be placed; this would help you to keep the installation straight. It is extremely important that you place the first row straight, as this one row is going to dictate the uprightness of the rest of the floor.

4. Working your way from the topmost corner, you should place spacers between the wall and the flooring (usually around 1/2 an inch) for the expansion gap. Begin by laying the 1^st piece in place, and then lock the 2^nd piece onto the end of the 1^st piece. Continue to do so until you are done with the 1st row. Occasionally, you may need to use a dead blow hammer to ensure a tight fit.

5. For the second row, continue at the opposite end.

6. Using a hammer and a three inch piece of wood, making sure that there is no damage to the floor, place the three inch piece of wood on the lip’s edge and tap the board into the lip of the 1st row.

7. Continue with interlocking and tapping in order to secure the planks. When you reach the end of a row, you can use a circular saw to cut the extra piece in order to ensure a perfect fit. Once done, begin on the next row.

8. Continuing with one row after another, finish the entire carpet area of the room (except the spacers).  You would not be required to glue down or nail any pieces.

9. Laying the floors, when you reach the far end of your room, place the spacers to leave some room for expansion against the room’s walls. You would need to glue it only if the space between the last and the second last row is one inch or less.

10. Once ready, remove the spacers and instead install any trim or baseboard.