Installing Hardwood Flooring - Tips To Make Your Job Go Smoother
By Peter Crump
Installing hardwood can take place in several ways depending on the type of hardwood that you have. If you have solid hardwood, you have to look at the type of wood you have. You can have parquet flooring, which usually comes in tiles of 6 inches by 6 inches or strips or planks that can be as much as 3 inches wide. If you have laminate wood then you have to look at a different method of installing hardwood flooring.

Whether you choose laminate or solid hardwood flooring, the directions for installing both of them are printed on the inside of the packaging. If you have previously installed hardwood floors and now you want to install glueless laminate flooring, you do need to read the directions for installing laminate flooring. When you are installing hardwood made of solid wood, you have to open the packages and let the wood become acclimatized to the humidity and temperature of your home. With laminate flooring, you have to do the exact opposite. You should not take this out of the package until you are ready to start installing.

Successful installation of hardwood or laminate depends upon careful planning. Even if you are installing hardwood over an existing concrete or vinyl floor, you do have to sweep and vacuum the floor to remove all the dust and dirt. If you are not sure of exactly how much laminate you will need, the directions for installing laminate also include directions for measuring the room to calculate the amount of that you need. When you intend to install glueless laminate flooring, you can also bring your measurements into your local store and have the experts do the calculations for you.

If you are wondering how to install glueless laminate and be able to keep it on the floor, each of the planks lock together with the tongue and groove design.

When installing hardwood like this, you cannot glue, nail or staple it in any way. When you start installing always consider the way the light shines into the room. Begin laying the planks toward the light and in a hallway always install glueless laminate lengthwise.

The directions for installing laminate will tell you that you lay the first plank with the grooves against the wall. Place spacers where they are needed when installing hardwood between the wall and the plank to maintain ½ inch extension gap. You will have to mark and cut the planks as you are installing the because they are of random lengths. Always begin in a corner when installing hardwood and the first board in the row should be a full plank.

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