There is so much hype around self-installation or DIY methods these days that most people are tempted to plunge headlong into installing their wooden flooring themselves. However, what they do not realize at the outset is that there is a lot more to flooring installation than lining up boards.
It is not as simple as you’d imagine. And the larger the area, the tougher it gets.
If you are planning to buy an
engineered hardwood flooring or a
solid hardwood flooring, it is recommended that you hire professional installation services. It makes the job so much easier as an experienced company can finish the process in limited time and with complete precision.
However, if you would still like to install it yourself, then you’d want to be aware of the options you have. Here’s how it works.
Determine the subflooring
The first and most important step is to determine the exact type of subflooring you have in your home. Irrespective of whether you choose solid wood or engineered wood, it is extremely important to choose the right fitting method.
There are three main types of subflooring.
- Concrete
- Particleboard
- Plywood
If you already have an existing flooring, then it will have to be removed and discarded before you can install your wooden flooring. Because pre-existing flooring cannot be used as a subfloor for installing wooden flooring.
The next step will be to prep your subfloor by cleaning, levelling and checking the moisture levels. All three tasks can be relatively simple or can get complex depending on the condition of the subfloor.
Installation
There are different ways to install your engineered wood and solid wood flooring.
Floating: In a floating floor installation, the engineered wood planks are clamped (flooring with a click lock system) together or a PVA glue is used to attach the groove of the plank with the tongue. The entire floor works as one single surface and the weight of this surface is used to prevent the floor from moving, warping or cracking. This method is considered to be easy to install because the planks can be installed directly over any surface. However, it is not suitable for solid wood installation because solid wood flooring needs to be firmly secured before installing.
Glued Down: A bonding agent or an adhesive is used to glue down the wooden planks directly to the subflooring. This increases the stability and the durability of the flooring. However, if you are working with a concrete subfloor, then you will have to use a moisture barrier or an epoxy membrane that prevents moisture from seeping upwards. Glue-down installation requires a fair amount of expertise and skills. It is not recommended for the first time DIYer. Glued down installation works perfectly with both engineered wood as well as solid wood flooring.
Nail Down: In a nail-down installation, the solid hardwood planks are fastened to the underlying subflooring using nails. Once again, this method doesn’t always work with engineered wood and requires a fair amount of expertise. It can also be time consuming. Irrespective of the method you choose, it is recommended that you speak to
professional installers to help install the flooring for your home.
