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Not only can a hardwood floor add a beautiful new look to any room, it can also add value to your home. However before anyone actually begins to install hardwood flooring in their home there are a number of steps that they need to take.

1. It is important that they stack the flooring inside for a few days in order for it to adjust to the humidity levels found in the house. Unfortunately if this is not carried out then the wood may well warp and buckle after it has been laid and this will result in you actually having to take it out and then laying a new flooring in its place.

2. You should always plan to install the flooring horizontally to the floor joists. A great way of knowing exactly where each floor joist is located is by making a mark on the walls above each one.

3. You will also need to ensure that you lay asphalt felt before installing the flooring as this will protect against moisture penetration as well as preventing the flooring from squeaking.

4. Once you begin to install your hardwood flooring you will find it useful if you lay out several rows of the boards first. Also make sure that they are staggered and that no end joint is close to any other end joint in the next row. The best distance to keep each joint away from the previous rows ones is to lay them 6 inches lower than the last row.

5. You need to cut pieces that will fit at the end of each row and should be no less than 8 inches in length. You will need to also allow for a 1/2 inch gap around the room between the edges of the boards and the walls.

6. When you actually need to cut any of the boards you should use only a radial arm or power miter saw. If you are blind nailing using a hammer and finishing nails then you should not drive them in flush as any indentations will show. Instead, stop hammering when the head of the nail is projecting from the board about 1/8 inch and then use a nail set. You need to place this sideways over the upper edge of the tongue in the wood and then drive the nail home by using a hammer to tap the nail set. Then all you need to do to ensure that the nails are fully flush with the wood is to use the tip of the nail set.

If you keep these steps in mind then you will find when it comes time to install hardwood flooring in your home the task will be a lot less complicated than you may have imagined.

Ernest Jarquio is a dedicated family man hopelessly addicted to do-it-yourself projects. For more information, visit his website, where he discusses various subjects such as how to install hardwood flooring, your hardwood flooring supplier and hardwood flooring discounts. Read various articles on the different aspects of hardwood, bamboo, laminate, tile and vinyl flooring.

Tags: hand scraped floors, install hardwood flooring

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Tags: hand scraped floors, install hardwood flooring