Timber flooring has been one of the favorites of many homemakers today. Its warmth and beauty instantly adds value to someone’s home. Unlike carpets, it is easy to clean. You do not have to worry about the stains for as long as you wipe it off immediately. Another reason why many love using timber is that the older it gets, the more beautiful it becomes. However, there are a lot of wood flooring installers taking shortcuts. With no proper installation, the value of it diminishes. Do not commit the same mistake that they did!
First, check the floor’s moisture.
Take a Moisture Content (MC) reading before you start the installation. Measure the temperature and humidity where you’re job site is. It should be between 30-50 RH (relative humidity) and between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Inspect the house’s exterior to make sure that no gutter and downspouts are out of place.
Next is making sure the subfloor is prepared.
It should be clean and flat. When we say clean, we mean that every debris must be swiped or scraped off, while flat means that the subfloor’s level must be within the most recent industry standard.
Third is to plan the layout beforehand.
Planning must be done to avoid awkward partial boards. Before hammering down the back board, make sure to plan the entire project. Tip: Start installing in the middle of the room so that the extension in both direction travels evenly.
Last is to put enough fasteners.
Not doing this is a common problem because without proper nailing, floors will be loosed which will cause them to make noise. Make sure that every board has at least 2 fasteners. There must be a fastener of 1-3 inches from each board.
Follow these steps and you’ll have a good start to successful timber flooring installation. Remember, it is always better to start right than to redo the floors that you should have installed correctly at the first place!