Installing the Different Hard Flooring Materials
Hardwood floors are highly favored for the ability to add both value and natural beauty to the home.
Here are several of the most popular flooring installation options: Traditional Hardwood Installing the traditional hardwood in the home is certain to be a quite difficult and time-consuming project.
One of the initial steps to take to get prepared for the hardwood is to fully prepare the subfloor.
The subfloor must be moisture tight, level, and clean.
Without the proper support floor, the main flooring surface could be exposed to excessive heat or moisture.
When the proper flooring is ready to be installed, the planks of hardwood are secured to the subfloor using nails.
In the process of laying the planks, the edges are always laid to give a staggered look (at least 10-12 inches) to avoid getting a constant line of joints.
Once the planks are installed, the installation is completed by staining and finishing.
Laminate Flooring Laminate flooring has an upper photographic layer that can give the real wood appearance and strengthened with a high density core.
The top photographic layer is made stain and scratch resistant by applying a special seal.
Laminate is a much cheaper flooring option and has become highly popular for this reason.
This type of flooring is installed using a tongue-and-groove method, which makes it DIY-friendly.
Plus, this flooring isn't nailed or glued, so it is possible to pull up and installed elsewhere if the need ever arises.
Engineered Hardwood One of the latest building materials is the engineered hardwood.
The flooring is constructed with a thin layer of veneer which is strengthened using multiple layers of high-density fiberboard, plywood, or real hardwood.
A great quality of this type of flooring is the ability to combine the real look of wood with the moisture resistance and flexibility of laminate flooring.
For instance, the engineered hardwood is a practical choice in properties that experience high humidity.
The installation process for this type of wood is similar to traditional hardwood.
Contemporary Hardwood Using the contemporary hardwood can make the installation project less strenuous and faster to complete.
The installation process will relate to the preferred boards.
Certain hardwood flooring can come with the tongue-and-groove interlocking system which makes it easier to snap the boards together.
Other types of hardwood require the boards to be nailed or glued down.
Also, you can buy the hardwood that is already stained, so once the boards have been laid the project is complete.