How To Install Hardwood Floors In Tight Spaces

There isn t a wood flooring installer in the business who isn t guilty of taking a shortcut or two on the job site from time to time.

How to install hardwood floors in tight spaces. Discover tips for installing hardwood floors or planks. Make sure you ve got the right amount of flooring for your space. Fortunately most of the problems are easily preventable with a little diligence on the part of the installer. When possible begin installation from the straightest longest wall and install the flooring perpendicular to the floor joists.

Space the pairs 10 to 12 inches apart and within an inch of each end of each board. Many flooring professionals maintain that the smoothest finish can be achieved by sanding and finishing a floor on site. The bad news is that when you take shortcuts there s plenty that can go wrong. They are available in 3 4 inch thickness as well as low profile styles that are 5 16 to 5 8 inch thick which are a good or installing over existing flooring.

On the last row cut the pieces to fit measuring the distance from the wall to the board not the tongue minus the expansion gap. If you re installing a hardwood floor. Hardwood floors also help cut down on dust mites. Finish hardwood floor installation when you get to the last few rows switch back to nailing by hand.

Solid wood floors should not be installed in basements or below grade. Like unfinished hardwood floors the prefinished types typically have tongue and groove edges on all sides. Maintenance is easy for a pre finished hardwood floor keep grit off of the surface by sweeping regularly and use a flooring cleaning kit alcohol based and spray on and wipe off with a damp cloth. Snug the boards tight end to end and row to row.

On site finishing allows the builder to custom fit and finish your floor to the space.