| Installing Wood Flooring |
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Note that hardwood flooring may be difficult to install in a moist basement or on top of concrete. However, if the basement is dry and you install a solid underlayment that can accept nails a hardwood floor is a beautiful addition. Remodeling Words Hardwood is the wood of broadleaf trees, such as maple, oak, and birch. Although hardwood is usually harder than softwood, the term has no actual reference to the hardness of the wood. Wood has been a popular flooring material for hundreds of years. In the past it was solid wood boards, then someone started milling them so that they fit together tightly—called tongue-and-groove milling. As solid wood became more expensive, laminate products increased in popularity. Laminate flooring has a melamine coating on top of either a thin ply of real wood or a photo of real wood, and underlying plies of high-density particle board. Remodeling Words Tongue-and-groove is a method of milling lumber so that it fits together tightly and forms an extremely strong floor. Also boards milled for tongue-and-groove flooring that have one or more tongues on one edge and a matching groove on the other. Solid wood flooring typically is made up of 3/4-in. tongue-and-groove hardwood. Strip flooring is under 3 in. and plank flooring is over 3 in. wide. Oak is the most popular hardwood flooring material though may people prefer cherry, walnut, or maple. Installation is relatively easy. Starting at the room’s longest wall, the first row is laid against the wall and on top of the underlayment (builder’s felt is preferred). The top edge closest to the wall is face-nailed and the tongue is angle-nailed. Then each subsequent row of boards is pressed against the prior row so that the groove fits over the tongue and nailed only at the tongue. Space the nails about 6 in. apart and no closer than 2 in. from board ends. If you’re installing prefinished hardwood flooring the job is about done. However, if you’re installing unfinished hardwood you still need to sand the floor surface smooth and apply a finish. You can rent a hardwood floor sander from rental stores. The finish you select can be a stain, a sealer, or a combination. Your flooring supplier can make recommendations based on use and traffic. Laminate flooring is relatively easy to install. Most interlock and float on the subfloor with no adhesion. Laminate flooring manufacturers include specific instructions in with their product, typically packed in boxes of about 20 sq. ft.
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