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There’s no denying how wood floors can enhance the aesthetics of a home. Not only does it add a touch of elegance but it also gives warmth, making it look cozier.
Aside from that, it is easy to clean and doesn’t need much upkeep. It is strong and durable too, which makes it more likable. On top of that, its color doesn’t fade easily no matter how many years have passed.
Compared to other types of flooring, wood remains superior for its countless benefits, which is why many homeowners prefer it. However, in spite of it being easy to install, there are still some things you need to know first to ensure a more flawless flooring. Here are some of them.
Decide Where to Install
Wood flooring can actually be placed in every area of your home. You can even install it in your bathroom. No matter where you place it, it will definitely make any room in your house look aesthetically pleasing and cozy at the same time.
However, there are certain areas in your home where wood flooring may require extra care and preparation. This way, it won’t get easily damaged and will stay in its best shape for long.
The bathroom, for instance, may require some extra effort to be maintained. This is because the bathroom has the most humidity and moisture among all the rooms in the house, which can damage the wood easily. So, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of where you want to install wood flooring.
Choose a Pattern
The pattern of your wood flooring is also something to be considered. This is because your hardwood flooring also affects your home’s aesthetics. It supports your overall interior design and it can also make a space look smaller or bigger.
For starters, there are different wood flooring patterns to choose from. The most popular ones are random, diagonal, chevron, herringbone, and parquet.
The random plank pattern is the most common. For this design, the planks, which have random lengths, are placed in a linear design.
Meanwhile, the diagonal, as its name suggests, is placed diagonally on the floor. When placed at a certain angle, it can make a room look larger even when you choose a darker finish.
The chevron, on the other hand, offers more symmetry in the planks’ lengths. When laid on the floor, it creates a vee line that gives an elegant luxurious European vibe.
As for the herringbone pattern, you’ll notice that it kind of resembles the chevron. What makes it different, though, is that its board ends overlap, unlike the chevron pattern.
Parquet, on the flip side, looks more unique. For this pattern, installers take pieces of wood and would fit them together to create patterns, which resemble a basket weave.
Decide Who Should Install
Unlike electrical wirings and pipes, installing wood flooring is one home improvement project that’s easier to do. Because of that, you can choose to do the installation yourself or call a pro.
There are, of course, pros and cons for the two, though. If you choose to do the installation yourself, bear in mind that you need to perfect the first planks’ alignment you install. This way, you can be sure that the next planks are placed correctly too. Also, you will need to have the right tools to install the wood planks properly.
Installing wood flooring yourself can be fun and, needless to say, will save you money if you know what you’re doing. However, if you’re unsure about the outcome, it’s safer to call for professional help instead.
By leaving the work in the hands of seasoned service providers, you can be sure that your flooring is installed correctly. Plus, you won’t need to worry about the tools needed for the installation as they already have everything they will need. You’ll need to spend some money for their service, though. Nevertheless, it’s worth every penny.
Gather Supplies
If you’ve decided to do the project on your own, again, the downside of it is that you’ll need to provide yourself the right tools to make the wood flooring installation process easier. For starters, the tools you’ll need for such a project are tape measure, chalk line, jamb saw, drill, drill bits, hammer, nail set, and broom, to name a few.
Do note, though, that your tools depend on your chosen method of wood flooring installation. If you want to staple it down, you’ll need a staple rather than nails; if you want to glue it down, you’ll need glue; and so on.
Prepare Your Room
If you’re installing wood flooring to a newly-built house, then, you’re lucky as you won’t need to worry about where and how you can move your furniture around your house as you’re installing your flooring.
But, if you’re renovating your home, then, you will need to prepare your room. This means you will need to move your furniture elsewhere to ensure a smooth installation.
Aside from that, it is also a must that you clean the room from top to bottom. This way, no dirt or any microorganism will get trapped in your floor, which could eventually cause more problems in the long run.
Your room preparation should also include fixing other issues in the room, such as leaks, cracks, holes, and the likes. Doing this would make the whole process easier and faster too.
Acclimate the Flooring
Hardwood needs time to adjust to a room’s normal environment. So, if you’re doing the project yourself, don’t forget to never skip this step. This conditions the world to its new environment. Thus, there won’t be any excessive warping, gaps, buckling, or cupping after you’ve completed the installation, keeping further damages at bay.
Choose a Finish
Wood flooring has different finishes and some can affect the color of the wood. Thus, depending on your room’s theme, you may also want to choose a finish that fits the vibe style you want for your room.
Wood flooring has so many perks. You should give it a try too.