How To Install Wood Flooring: Floating Floors

If you're interested in learning how to install wood flooring in your new or existing home, the good news is that there is a special type of hardwood floor that is very easy to install. It's called a "floating hardwood floor", and it works just like it sounds - it "floats" over the top of a substrate with no gluing or nailing required to adhere it. Even better, floating hardwood floors can be installed over the top of an existing hardwood floor, meaning that there is no need to do demolition.

Before you begin to install wood flooring, you will need to make sure your subfloor or substrate is completely clean and level. A joint compound that is self-leveling can be used to remedy any leveling problems. You will also need to decide what direction you would like the planks of your hardwood floor to lay.

When installing hardwood floors using floating flooring, a tongue and groove construction is used to "lock" the planks together. However, you will also need a special flooring glue to apply between the planks in order to create permanent adherence. Don't use too much glue, and try to wipe away any excess.

The first three rows of planks are the most important, and it is these rows that can often become skewed or not fit together tightly when you are learning how to install wood flooring, therefore creating problems with the rest of the rows of flooring. You will want to use clamps or straps to make these first three rows fit together tightly until the glue dries.

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Around the walls, you will want to leave a little bit of a gap in your floor during the floor installation. This is because the floor needs to be able to expand and contract from summer to winter. The instructions you receive with your floor will tell you how much room to leave. The molding on your walls will end up covering this space, so it won't be visible.

After the planks are laid and glued, the floor will need to set for a while (consult instructions to find out how long you will need to leave it.) Then, you will need to sand the floor and use a finish to completely seal it. Many people prefer to hire a specialist to perform this step.

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