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What is the best choice for Flooring in my Home? - Part I

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Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty

DIY Flooring Installation: Part I

Installing a new floor is a great way to liven up your house. Before you change your floor, however, you need to decide what type of flooring is best suited to your budget and lifestyle. Hardwood floors are a classic choice, while many homeowners prefer the ease of tile or the affordability of laminate flooring. While some floors can be installed by an inexperienced homeowner, other floor types require the services of a professional or an experienced handyman.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floors have always been a popular choice. Beautiful, traditional wood floors can last a lifetime if properly maintained and, because hardwood floors are more hygienic than carpet, they are a good choice for people with allergies. The National Wood Flooring Association, points out that wood is:

Low-maintenance

Renewable

Recyclable

Varied

Enduring

Hardwood floor types can be new or salvaged and might be smooth, distressed, or hand-scraped for an antique look. Stains give you a variety of color choices, even allowing oak to masquerade as rare exotic lumber. Research all your options before investing in a hardwood floor, as each of the many choices offers advantages of its own.

Maintaining Hardwood Floors

Prefinished hardwood flooring can be expensive, but it is easy to maintain. To keep your hardwood floor looking its best, you should put down area rugs in places that get a lot of foot traffic. You should also damp mop your floor frequently to remove dust and dirt. If your hardwood floors get a few minor scratches, you can repair them with a touch-up stick. Solid hardwood floors can be refinished if they have a lot of scuffmarks, which is one advantage over other products like laminate flooring.

Installing Hardwood Flooring

If you have never installed any type of flooring, you might want to hire a professional to lay your hardwood floors. Get an estimate, ask for references and never pay for the entire job upfront. If you do decide to do it yourself, do your homework because installing flooring can be tricky. The following tools are needed for installing hardwood floors:

Circular saw

Measuring tape

Nail gun or hammer

Table saw

T-square

Floor sealant

Nails

Safety glasses

According to Steve Seabaugh, director of technical education for the NWFA, installers of wood floors must take care to:

Check the subfloor for flatness.

Avoid laying over particleboard, which does not hold nails well.

Acclimatize wood to the space in which it will be installed.

Laying hardwood floors takes time, and this last step adds several days to your project calendar. The flooring should sit in your home for at least 48 hours before installation in order to expose it to the room's environment. This allows it to expand or contract according to the temperature and humidity of the room. If this takes place after the floor is laid, you'll wind up with shifting boards and uneven flooring. In addition to this brief period of acclimatization, plan to spend at least a few full days installing hardwood floors, depending on the size of your home.


In Part II, we will talk about alternative flooring types such as Eco-Friendly Laminates and Tile.

For more information on other DIY projects or Insider Tips on your home, visit www.clarkransom.com and click on the Market Insider Tab.

Show All Comments Sort:
Ronald DiLalla
Century 21 Discovery DRE 01813824 - Anaheim, CA
No. Orange Cty Real Estate

Hi Clark,  I hve been hearing a lot about engineered flooring..Anhy idea what this is.

Oct 26, 2013 09:52 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Ask our own Flooring Girl for all things beneath your feet...Debbie Gartner has the answers !

Oct 26, 2013 10:08 AM
Clark Ransom
Keller Williams Realty - El Cajon, CA
Let us Guide you Home

Hi Ron,

Engineered flooring is actually two or more layers of wood layed over one another at a 90 degree angle.  This process makes it suitable for above or below grade applications; so it works in basements as well.  It's probably the most commonly used type of hardwood flooring today.

Oct 27, 2013 01:05 AM