How To Install Hardwood Floors In Tight Spaces

When possible begin installation from the straightest longest wall and install the flooring perpendicular to the floor joists.

How to install hardwood floors in tight spaces.

Maintenance is easy for a pre finished hardwood floor keep grit off of the surface by sweeping regularly and use a flooring cleaning kit alcohol based and spray on and wipe off with a damp cloth. Snug the boards tight end to end and row to row. Many flooring professionals maintain that the smoothest finish can be achieved by sanding and finishing a floor on site. Space the pairs 10 to 12 inches apart and within an inch of each end of each board.

Drill pairs of 1 8 inch holes through the faces of the boards. If you re installing a hardwood floor. The good news is that laying wood floors isn t rocket science. Fortunately most of the problems are easily preventable with a little diligence on the part of the installer.

The bad news is that when you take shortcuts there s plenty that can go wrong. There isn t a wood flooring installer in the business who isn t guilty of taking a shortcut or two on the job site from time to time. On the last row cut the pieces to fit measuring the distance from the wall to the board not the tongue minus the expansion gap. On site finishing allows the builder to custom fit and finish your floor to the space.

Make sure you ve got the right amount of flooring for your space. They are available in 3 4 inch thickness as well as low profile styles that are 5 16 to 5 8 inch thick which are a good or installing over existing flooring. Hardwood floors also help cut down on dust mites. Like unfinished hardwood floors the prefinished types typically have tongue and groove edges on all sides.

Solid wood floors should not be installed in basements or below grade.