If you’re a homeowner, you know how challenging it can be to take on renovation by yourself. However, if you have the patience for them, DIY projects can be some of the most rewarding and worthwhile options when it comes to home improvements. One of those projects includes hardwood floor installation. It may initially seem overwhelming, but here are some things to consider that will help you stay on the right track.
Planning
The first place to start would be creating an outline of how you plan to approach your hardwood flooring installation project. This means you must be honest about your experience level and decide your initial budget. Do you need this floor to be relatively inexpensive (hardwood floors are typically not cheap) and fairly easy? Is this is your first time attempting a large scale DIY on a tighter budget? Will you be watching how-to videos along the way? Are you a seasoned flooring and carpentry veteran with a large budget?
Maybe you’re somewhere in between.
It’s important to think about how elaborate your project is going to be before diving into it. You want to make sure you’re choosing an approach that caters to your experience level. You don’t want to waste time and money and end up with a botched floor. No one wants to resort to an area rug that has to cover an unfinished floor. You can always hire professionals to take care of the floor refinishing to have a very appealing floor that makes the whole room that much better.
Materials
Okay, I know that most of us would love our beautiful, new flooring to be both inexpensive and picturesque. It’s absolutely possible, but you need to do your research! There are many different types of hardwood material out there so it can be a bit confusing if you’re unfamiliar with flooring.
You’ll need something compatible with the climate in your area, your lifestyle, skill level, and the type of traffic your floor is going to experience. Do you have small children and animals that are going to be running through the house? Tap dancing rehearsals in your dining room? A home’s hardwood floors are going to have a different reaction to weather in Georgia than they will in Minnesota. This means you’ll need to take into account how wood responds to changing humidity (dimensional stability) in order to purchase an appropriate fit.
Flooring comes in different types, based on the species of tree it’s derived from. This means that some materials are going to be harder, more stable, and potentially more or less “workable” (how well the wood will respond to sanding and finishing) than others. Harder woods are also going to be more expensive and generally more difficult to install.
Flooring also comes finished or unfinished, although most flooring today is sold with a layer of protective polyurethane before it’s sold. Consider which is the better trade-off for you. If it makes more sense to buy something already finished based on your experience level and time constraints, then that’s the better option. If time and skill are not a large variable, unfinished wood allows more room for personal creativity.
You can also consider what you’re going to put underneath your flooring, as an underlayment will serve to absorb shock, sound, and moisture, provide insulation, and preserve the longevity of your flooring. You can invest in gypsum, particle board, foam, or a quality cork underlayment.
Implementation
If this is your first time, I cannot stress enough the importance of how-to guides. Do not assume you know what to do or go full-steam ahead with a vague idea of how flooring is installed. Make sure you’ve read, watched, or listened to as many guides as you deem necessary in order to feel comfortable undertaking this endeavor.
It’s okay to feel nervous as we always do when we start something new, but this should be an exciting learning experience, not an expensive headache. If you get stuck or do need help and recognize the project is simply too overwhelming, don’t hesitate to consult an expert or call a carpenter.
With proper planning, hardwood floors can be a beautiful accent to your home, bringing a fresh, natural look to any room. Once you’ve chosen the perfect floor, all you have left to do is enjoy your new, polished space.
