Wood floors are an excellent option for homes and offices. They are stylish, invite nature, and add value to your home. While there are numerous types of wood floors and installation processes, homeowners can come across various setbacks during the installation process. Learning about these mistakes is crucial to avoid them and get the best results. This article will discuss six errors in hardwood installation and how to avoid them.
How to Avoid Wood Flooring Installation Mistakes
Not Hiring Experts
Not hiring experts to install your hardwood floor is one of the biggest mistakes. Unless you are a professional installer and have all the required tools, you should seek help from professionals. Expert installers have undergone training and have the expertise to deliver the best installation services. Instead of cutting corners and installing the wood flooring, hiring professionals to do the right job is advisable. It is cheaper in the long run and prevents problems in the future.
Not Checking Moisture Levels
Wood flooring is highly impacted by humidity. During dry conditions, the wood contracts and expands when the temperature rises. If the boards are installed in these conditions, there is a chance issues will develop. Therefore, if you live in an area with high humidity changes, you should go for engineered wood flooring installation. This kind of installation helps prevent contraction and expansion issues. It is vital to check humidity levels in the room before installing wood flooring.
Failure to Prepare the Subfloor
As you acclimate the wood flooring, it is critical to prepare the subfloor first. Poorly prepared subfloor can cause installation issues and lead to loose boards. You may notice creaks when you step on the floor or buckling. Therefore, ensure the subfloor is clean and dry before installation. The moisture left can cause structural damage to the floor.
Picking the Wrong Type of Wood
It is crucial to ensure you choose the right type of wood. It is an essential step during the installation process. Instead of choosing wood based on looks, determine the suitable type based on where you live and how functional you want it to be. For example, suppose you are installing the floor in an area with high foot traffic. In that case, it is advisable to avoid selecting softwood since it will easily scratch and wear off. If you want to install wood flooring in a humid area like the bathroom or kitchen, you should use engineered hardwood.
Failure to Acclimate the Floor
Failure to acclimate the wood flooring is another common mistake people make. Ensure you properly adjust the floor to allow equilibrium during expansion and contraction due to moisture inside. It helps prevent cracking, warping, shrinking, and more issues.
Leaving Gaps
Inexperienced wood flooring installers leave gaps between the wood. This mistake often happens when the wood floor is installed on a wet subfloor. As mentioned, it is crucial to allow the subfloor to dry completely to prevent retraction of the wood after drying. If you leave large gas, ensure you seal them with a wood filler.
Find a Professional for Wood Flooring Installation
Hiring a professional wood flooring installer is the best option to save money and time. It also helps avoid problems later. Therefore, if you have a wood flooring installation project, hire an expert to help prevent these mistakes.
