Do-it-Yourself Wood Installation: Doing It the Right Way

You can now do home improvements on your own. This is because there are so many do-it-yourself instructions now available on how to install floorings, windows, doors and closets, among others. These DIY methods are becoming easier as time goes by that quite many people have adapted to doing them to save on labor costs.You would be surprised to learn that there are many properties under real estate listings that underwent remodeling through the use of do-it-yourself techniques. By following DIY instructions, you are able to repair your home in no time, just like a professional.

One of the do-it-yourself installations that people are now into is the do-it-yourself wood installation. This is because installing a new hardwood floor to your old home can liven things up a bit. You just have to remember though that before you can start making your do-i-yourself floor, you have to take care in preparing for the installation by stripping off that old hardwood flooring. You would also have to make sure that a wooden subfloor is in place.

Here are the steps to do-it-yourself hardwood installation that are sure to get you that anticipated home improvement to your floor:

Get rid of any shoe moldings or base moldings.
Before anything else, you would have to take away the base molding from the wall of the area that you are remodeling by using a pry bar. Be sure that there is a ¼ inch gap that is left along the span of the wall. This is for the flooring expansion, which can be hidden by the molding once you reapply it at the end of the installation.

A building paper should be tacked down before anything else.
This is not strictly necessary but tacking down building paper before doing your do-it-yourself floor is better. This is because the paper is designed as an additional barrier against vapor and lessens transmission of sounds and squeaks as well. Just roll out this cheap paper, which you could staple at every ten inches. Take care in overlapping the building paper at an estimated three inches.

Know how wide the starter strip should be.
This next and most important step is done by rip-cutting the panels for the starting and the last rows with uniform dimensions. To get a more accurate measurement, be sure to lay out all the strips for the starting rows on the entire expanse of the floor. Be sure not to just plan on cutting the final row because this may result in your getting quite a thin final strip that would look ill-chosen.

Installing the first row.
This is the next crucial step in your do-it-yourself wood installation. To start the installation, you have to mark your starter panel’s width with chalk, the line of which should be very straight, as this will affect the integrity of the entire project. Don’t forget the ¼ inch gap as you align the edge of your panel along the line you made with the chalk. You have to pre-drill some holes at every 12 inches of your starter panel. In securing the wood panel to subfloor, make sure to drive in #6 nails into the holes.

Nailing down the rows that come after the first.
You could simply slide the wood panels or strips that come after the starter panel into place and then nail it in with the use of a rented flooring nailer, if you want.

Make sure that you fit your flooring around the obstacles in the room you are remodeling.
To do this, you would just have to place your wooden strip as close to the wall as you can, then you can already cut the panel to fit the obstacle. Just make sure to remember the ¼ inch gap.

Cutting and fitting the last row.
The last row will have to be nailed in place by hand. Utilize a pry bar with a block of scrap wood to make sure that the joint in between the two panels are tight enough and you wall is also protected.

If necessary, you must sand and put finishing onto your floor.
If the flooring that you are using is not pre-finished, then you would have to sand, stain and finish it before you get to the last step of your do-it-yourself wood installation. The last step entails the reapplication of the show and the base moldings of your wall.

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