Do you know the quickest way to get new wood floors? It is by installing a floating wood floor, and you can do it yourself, without any professional help.
Surprisingly, it does not have to be nailed down like traditional wood strips, it just has to be glued or snapped together.
Moreover, it can be put on any material whether it is ceramic, plywood, concrete or even sheet vinyl.
Sounds simple right? Let us get into the details of how to install floating wood flooring.
Instructions Things you will need: Foam Planks Tool box Duct tape Wood blade Glue Step one: Calculation of area It is important to decide the direction in which the flooring would be applied.
Normally running the planks length wise or parallel to the longest wall would look the best.
This would be followed by calculation of the number of planks which would be required after measuring the width in consideration with length Step two: Trim the door castings Trimming of the casing at all doorways is important, and it should be done in a way so that the flooring would slide below the doors with ease.
The process is best done using a piece of foam and a piece of flooring.
Step three: Install the foam underlayment The foam can be laid on the room after it has been vacuumed.
The entire room needs to be covered with a single layer of foam after which the seams would be sealed with a duct tape.
Step four: Install The first course of the sticking the planks would be on the sides, starting by the grooved end next to the walls.
This would be followed by laying planks on the rest of the floor.
Few things which can be kept in mind is that each length should be more than 8 inches, place spacers on the sides before placing a plank, and continue this way.
Step five: Measure for the last course While doing the flooring for the last course its vital to measure the gap very carefully.
It has to be measured till the spacer put next to the wall and the gap needs to be accounted for is due to the fact that while putting the flooring since the flooring needs to cover all the ends as well below the doorways.
Step six: Rip the plank to width Cut the plank to fit the width of the notches of the doorways.
A fine and sharp tooth wood blade needs to be used to cut these planks slowly.
Step seven: Pry in the last course The spacers need to be removed from the last room after which the pry bar would help in pulling the piece tight against the one used in the previous course.
Moreover, the glue needs to be cured for a minimum of twelve hours before removing the tape, spacers or trimming the room for neatening the perimeter.
Step eight: Finish trim in installing wood floors The final trim needs to be installed on the either side of the door stops.
Moreover, the transition needs to be set on the sub floor while overlapping the floor from either side.
The shoe molding needs to be completed preferably with one piece.
The final trim is extremely vital for the neat look.
All the corners and edges all need to be checked thoroughly.
This would mark the end for installing the floating wood flooring.
Tips and suggestions •Keep in mind the reaction of moisture to wooden flooring.
For instance, in case of summer when the moisture levels are higher the planks are liable to expand while the reverse holds true in the dry winter months.
Acclimatization of the wood prior to installation is important.
Moreover, expansion area around the perimeter needs to be left.