Are you a fan of the timeless elegance hardwood floors bring to a space? Often viewed as the ultimate luxury, hardwood planks bring an undeniable class to any room, helping to tie together your aesthetic and serving as a statement piece for visitors to enjoy. While caring for your floors will help to extend the lifetime of the planks, proper installation is vital to preventing premature wear and damage. Below are six quick tips to keep in mind prior to hardwood installation.
1. Choose the right location
While hardwood is incredibly versatile as an aesthetic feature, it’s important to install it in the right area of your home or commercial space for the best results. Unlike other flooring varieties, hardwood is more susceptible to moisture, temperature fluctuations, scratches, and other challenges. This means that you’ll want to avoid placing it in basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas that may be more prone to these kinds of factors.
2. Know which hardwood works best
One fact that property owners are often surprised to learn is that there are two different types of hardwood to choose from: traditional and hardwood. While you can read a more in-depth breakdown of the two here, you’ll want to keep in mind that engineered hardwood is slightly less affected by humidity and temperature fluctuations, making it more versatile in terms of where it can be placed.
3. Choose the best installation method for your planks
There are multiple different ways to install hardwood, including nail down, glue down, and floating methods. If you plan on doing a DIY installation, make sure you know what process works best for your planks, or eliminate the risk of mishaps entirely by partnering with an experienced flooring installation team.
4. Pick the right time to install
If you’re installing hardwood in a new or property, you’ll want to wait until the majority of construction or renovations are completed before installing your floors. This will avoid the risk of damage.
5. Properly prepare the surface
Prior to installation, you’ll want to ensure your space is dried and flat for the best results. Failure to double check can leave you with poor bonding, uneven planks, and other issues.
6. Prepare your planks
Before laying your flooring, you’ll want to make sure your planks are kept in a humidity controlled environment that prevents moisture buildup or the exposure to dampness. Ideally, have the planks delivered to your home about a week in advance to give the wood time to have acclimatized to your space.
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