We are a young couple remodeling our first house...one outdated / ugly thing at a time. This blog documents our remodel projects and ideas.
RSS

12.30.2010

Hardwood Floor Installation - DIY Style

Yesssss! We installed the hardwood floors! After tearing out the built-insdemoing the fireplace, and removing the carpet, it was time for the much feared anticipated installation...and of course we did all the work ourselves with the enlisted help of my parentals. What - did you think we would hire out the installation? Of course not, we are DIYers! And this was a first for this little DIYer. I have installed hardwood floor to a wood sub floor using a nail gun, but we are on a concrete slab and this installation was a whole new ballgame.
To keep this from being the longest how-to post ever, I'm not going to bore you with every single detail of the installation. If you want the details, hit me up on the contact page with any questions and I'll be more than happy to fill you in. I am thankful that we only laid hardwood in the living room. Not because it is hard to do (it was actually easy), but it will make you feel like you are 108 years old the next day. Trust me. Being on your knees on concrete all day is not fun.

Okay, let's get started with the tutorial! The needed supplies to install engineered hardwood floors include hardwood (duh), adhesive, square-notch trowel, white rubber mallet (white won't scuff the floor), tape, a mitre saw, and knee pads for good measure. And some words of advice, make sure the floor is completely clean before you start. The adhesive is very sticky and you don't want any debris getting into it and under the hardwood. The only "rule" of laying hardwood floors is to make sure that none of the joints are next to each other. And when laying the floor, be sure to only beat on the groove side so you don't ruin the tongue side. Here is a picture of the tongue and groove:
 
Step 1 - Glue. Using the trowel, spread a semi-thin layer of the glue onto a section of the concrete starting in a corner. Make sure to go longer along the wall than deeper so you will be able to reach and lay the hardwood. Go back over the glue, holding the notched side of the trowel at a 45 degree angle to create ridges. (Use the same method on the hardwood adhesive as with tile adhesive.) Let the glue setup for about 10 minutes before you lay the hardwood. Step 1 is done. Easy, huh?

Step 2 - Lay Hardwood. After the glue has setup and become tacky, you can start laying the hardwood. The first piece and row are the most important because it is the baseline for the rest. Lay the first piece down, making sure that the groove side is towards you and the tongue is facing the wall. This way the tongue won't become damaged if we have to hammer a piece into place. Continue laying the hardwood until you have covered the glue. If a piece is stubborn and doesn't want to go into place, use the rubber mallet to tap it into place. Also, tap the pieces along the groove side once they are laid down to ensure a snug fit. When you get to the end of a row, cut the last board to the appropriate length with the mitre saw.
You can see the adhesive on the floor and the stair-step install of the hardwood. This picture is looking down toward the extra bedrooms. The hall used to have carpet in it, just like the living room; however, it now will have hardwood. Only the bedrooms will have carpet now.

Step 3 - Tape. This isn't a requirement; however, if you are going to walk on the floor I would suggest it. We placed a strip of gorilla tape (which is the best tape ever) every few feet just to make sure the hardwood wouldn't move. And between the stickiest adhesive and the best tape, that floor didn't go anywhere.

Step 4. - Repeat. Keep gluing, laying, and taping until the floor is done.


That's it folks. Like I said, it really wasn't hard - just don't tell my knees it wasn't hard. Laying the hardwood is easy work. The hardest part for us was blending in the new with the old, and it was all because of that carpet inset we removed. The hardwood floor going into the sun room was straight cut across and we couldn't lay the hardwood down with a straight cut end in the middle of the floor. To fix this straight cut end, we had to tear up a few boards of the old floor so the new floor would blend in. Like this:
My lovely mom is tearing up some of the old floor so it will be staggered instead of straight cut. This was not an easy task. But, we succeeded and got all the hardwood installed.

Now we need to sand it all down and get it ready for refinishing, which of course we will do it all ourselves. Are you a DIY hardwood floor installer? Or do you prefer to have the pros install?

Psss - We also sanded and refinished the floor, total DIY of course. Here is the rundown on sanding and my how-to refinish here.

27 comments:

Julie said...

You make it sound so easy! I want to install wood floors in our entire downstairs plus our staircase. You are giving me confidence that my hubbie and I can DIY it :) I'm visiting form TDC's Before and After Party!

Julianna said...

Great Work! We re-finished our hardwood floors before we moved in to our house and that was a lot of work!
Have a great day!
Julie
http://singingthreelittlebirds.blogspot.com
http://bellerosedesigns.etsy.com

Anonymous said...

We just refinished our hard wood floor I was much easier that we thought it would be. I turned out beautiful and we think it looks better that the original finish when the floor was new.

vancouver install custom hardwood said...

These tips shared for the hardwood installation are helpful for me. My home floor had got old and rubbish. So I want to install hardwood over there.

vancouver stair refinishing said...

Wow! fantastic blog post. Well,kind of jealous, we haven't got our blog up and running quite. But, we're a vancouver stair refinishing company.

Anonymous said...

Magnificent beat ! I would like to apprentice even as you
amend your website, how can i subscribe for a blog
web site? The account aided me a applicable deal.
I have been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided shiny
transparent concept
installing hardwood floors

Also visit my web page hardwood floor
Also see my website :: cleaning hardwood floors

Anonymous said...

If you want to get much from this piece of
writing then you have to apply these strategies to your won blog.


My blog post :: hardwood floors

Wooden Floor Shop Ltd said...

Installing hard wood floors has never been this easy. Cheers to your successful DIY project!

Anonymous said...

Hi my friend! I wish to say that this article is amazing, nice written and come with approximately
all significant infos. I would like to see extra posts like this
.

Here is my page :: housekeeping checklist template
my web site > industrial housekeeping checklist

Anonymous said...

I am really grateful to the owner of this web page who has shared this fantastic paragraph at at this time.



My weblog http://www.facebook.giaynu.net/profile/patriciamc

Anonymous said...

Amazing! Its in fact awesome piece of writing, I have got much clear idea concerning from this paragraph.


My web page ... www.ieee-ucalgary.ca
My page: www.ch3n2k.com

Anonymous said...

Thanks on your marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it, you may be
a great author. I will make certain to bookmark your blog and will often come back from now on.

I want to encourage that you continue your great posts,
have a nice weekend!

my web page; Going Here

Unknown said...

Hardwood flooring is one of the best ways to improve your home’s interior. It looks better than other types of flooring. Bois R Franc Therrien is one of the leading suppliers of Hardwood flooring in Ottawa

Thanks
===============
With Regards

Tile stores Ottawa - Bois Franc R. Therrien
Hardwood Flooring Companies
Céramique Couvre Plancher - Bois Franc Therrien

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joanne said...

I think your blog post can make the hardwood installation much easier. I was looking for some posts for custom hardwood installation.

Hardwood Floors

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ameen Khatri said...

Excellent effort to make this blog more wonderful and attractive. flooring installation mn

Unknown said...

Don’t gamble with your hardwood flooring investment. Getting the most value from your flooring starts with professional installation of your flooring. laminate flooring Markham

Shradha said...

Topsurface is Premium Cheap Cost Hard Wood Flooring Supplier in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah. Biggest Gym Flooring Installer. Hard Wood Flooring Supplier, Engineered Flooring Supplier, Enginnered wood SupplierComposite wood, Composite wood, Sports Flooring, Hard Wood Flooring Supplier Installer

Shradha said...

Topsurfaceuae is Premium Cheap Cost Hard Wood Flooring Supplier in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Gym Flooring Installer, Hard Wood Flooring Supplier, Engineered Flooring Supplier, Engineered wood Supplier Composite wood, Composite wood, Sports Flooring, Hard Wood Flooring Supplier Installer

floorsblvd said...

best blog...flooring in Plano Texas Home Renovation Ideas and Flooring Installation service

floorsblvd said...

.

bill.wood said...

It is highly advisable to check the market reputation of the professional paving contractor you have selected for your paving job. Best paving company

Sequoia Flooring said...

Sequoiaflooring.net has become a pretty well known hardwood floor installers Los Angeles ca company all over the US,(Sequoia Flooring), 14701 Oxnard St, Van Nuys, CA 91411, USA.(877) 776-3440

Richard Baker said...

Great Article, For gym floor installation visit my website: Gym Floor Installation

Ivane Grill said...

This blog seems sharing interesting tips as i was looking for new floor installation thanks for sharing it.

Unknown said...

q2u60o0e04 w9a48u4i13 e5q24f6y81 j9n66s6t91 y3u45c6t30 o6x29y2e26

Post a Comment