One of the most important things homeowners worries about when undergoing construction or renovation is the flooring of the house. With end number of choices in the market, making the decision can indeed be intimidating. Any apartment or house you own, one of the best ways to make it look elegant and upmarket is to install hardwood flooring. Not only is hardwood flooring beautiful to look at and durable, but it is also environment-friendly as well.
However, not all hardwood flooring is of the same quality, that is why the importance of finding the best hardwood flooring greenwich ct for your home. There are different kinds of hardwood flooring and factors based on which you can make your choice.
Types of Hardwood Flooring
There are different types of hardwood flooring that you can choose from:
Finished or unfinished
Unfinished hardwood flooring is suitable if you want to apply a customized stain over it before the final finishing is done. It is also recommended when you are required to match the colour of any existing flooring in your house. Unfinished flooring works well in kitchens, where the finish permeates in and seals the space between the kitchen boards, preventing any kind of water leakage from the boards.
Finished hardwood flooring, on the other hand, comes sanded and sealed from the factory itself. Therefore, installing it is much easier and faster.
Solid or engineered
Solid hardwood flooring is almost 5/8 to ¾ inches in thickness and it is totally made of wood. You can sand and finish it many times, because of this. But humidity can affect it and you should not use it for cellars or basements.
Engineered hardwood flooring is a layer of real wood that is fused with layers of other wood like plywood beneath it. This makes the flooring very stable and you can install it anywhere in your house, including cellars and basements.
Installing Hardwood Flooring
You will need a different set of tools depending on which type of hardwood flooring is being installed. Here is a brief overview of it:
- Finalize the method of installation of the hardwood flooring. Installation methods will be different based on the thickness, width, and construction of the hardwood flooring and where it will be installed. You can nail or glue solid hardwood flooring to a wood subfloor. Engineered hardwood flooring can be fastened, glued or installed like a floating floor.
- Solid hardwood flooring needs time to acclimate to the room where you are going to install it. So don’t try to use it immediately after it has arrived. You will need to regulate the humidity level of the room as well.
- You should watch some online videos on installing hardwood flooring and read the instruction manuals very carefully before you embark on installing it yourself. You will need a set of tools and make sure that the subfloor is flat, clean, and dry.
- Start by rolling out the underlayment and then lay pieces parallel to the longest wall in the room. You can start on the left side and work towards the right. Follow the directions of the manufacturer carefully all the time.
- Finish well by cutting any boards required for the last row. After you have put in all the boards, you can remove the spacers and attach the mouldings and trim.
Hardwood flooring will change the look of your house and last you a very long time. It is a good option to choose this kind of flooring. Consulting and hiring a professional flooring expert to do the entire installation is recommended. This is because these experts have the required authorization and qualification with long years of work experience to deliver you the job effectively.