How to install hardwood flooring

Need to know how to install hardwood flooring? Now that you have chosen your new wood floor, you are probably very anxious to see it installed. But before you get down on the floor to begin your hardwood flooring installation, there are a few preliminary steps you need to take to ensure a smooth installation and many years of enjoyment from your new wood floor. The flooring professor is your one source flooring expert that can help you understand how to install hardwood flooring!

The flooring professor has been involved installing wood floors for over 20 years and can make it easy to learn how to install hardwood flooring for the purpose of doing it yourself and saving money or simply so you can have an understanding of what to expect when your hard wood flooring installation professional arrives to complete your job!

First, we need to know what type of hardwood flooring you have purchased (if you allowed us to guide you through the purchasing process whatever choice you made we know it is the right one for your project!). Ok....did you buy....

Please click on one choice below

Solid wood flooring    Engineered wood flooring  floating wood flooring 


*Remember solid hardwood flooring will be approximately 3/4" thick and made of all one solid piece of wood, Engineered wood flooring will be a multi layered product using wood (other than the finish species) for the back and center layer and the desired species of hardwood for the top layer or finish layer. floating hard wood flooring is similar to engineered but will traditionally include a no glue locking system and usually the planks are wider (7-8") than the engineered and solid products (3-5").

How to install hardwood flooring-Solid specific Instructions

Pre-Installation

The following information is generic how to install hardwood flooring information. It deals with areas that you must be familiar with before starting your  solid wood flooring installation. It is very important to the success of your final finished project. Please keep in mind that your particular flooring manufacturer will have product specific requirements. This section is designed to be a general guideline. You must follow your specific manufacturers installation instructions for your warranty to be valid!!! 

How to install hardwood flooring on a Concrete Slab

If your flooring will be glued directly to a concrete slab, make sure the slab is flat, clean, and dry. A moisture test is recommended before you can begin your hardwood flooring installation. Refer to our floors and moisture section for more information. Also, for this type of installation most manufacturers suggest using a high quality, urethane wood floor adhesive. We have done many glue down installations of this nature and suggest you purchase nothing less than the best adhesive. It will make or break your job!

How to install hardwood flooring on a Wood Sub-Flooring

Plywood, 5/8” or thicker, or osb (oriented strand board) is the most common sub-flooring seen. Wood sub-flooring must be flat, clean, and dry, and moisture testing should be done and levels documented prior to wood flooring installation. If the sub-flooring is installed over a crawlspace, We highly recommend placing a moisture barrier of 6 to 8 mil polyurethane sheeting over the soil as a vapor barrier.

Acclimation of your hardwood flooring

Acclimating wood flooring to its installation environment is critical for dimensional stability. We recommend placing flooring boards in the room where it will be installed for a minimum of 2-3 days prior to installation. The room temperature should be at a normal comfort level. However, jobsites and conditions will vary, SO be sure to test for moisture and document the readings.

Accepted installation methods

Methods for Solid wood flooring installation can be nailing, stapling, or gluing. The nailing and stapling methods require a flooring nailer and at least a basic knowledge of power tools and working with wood. If you are not familiar with this type of equipment, you can learn more in our flooring nailers section to see if you are comfortable with working with such equipment. Otherwise it would be a good idea to leave it to the pros. (which we will also help you find if you decide). The gluing method is a much easier and safer method for do-it-yourselfers. However, if the no matter if the glue, nailing or stapling method is used, Please consult our helpful installation guide for the in depth step by step guidance you will need.

Laying out the job

No professional installer would start a job without a layout plan, and neither should you. Fortunately, you don’t need anything too fancy,  just draw out your space on a piece of graph paper to layout a scale diagram of your floor. From this sketch you can easily determine the amount of material you will need. (again we can help you with this if you are registered for support) Most manufacturers recommend leaving a 3/8” to 1/2" expansion space between the flooring and the walls, so be sure to allow for the recommended spacing on your sketch.

Getting your hands dirty

Since all wood flooring (like any other natural product) has natural color variations. So when considering how to install hardwood flooring you will first want to sort through the material and decide how to distribute the contrasts before selecting the planks for the starter row. We usually recommend installing the planking parallel to the longest wall and using an outside wall if possible (as usually they are more likely to be close to perfectly square). We also recommend whenever possible installing it perpendicular to the joists. Let's remember however that we WILL consult the manufacturers specific recommendations in all cases before beginning your hard wood flooring installation.

Snap a chalk line on the sub-floor to make a reference mark for the starter row. The mark should be away from the wall will by a distance equal to the width of the planking, plus the tongue, plus the expansion space. For example: with a plank width of 3 1/2”, a tongue width of 1/4”, and an expansion space of 1/2”, the reference mark would be 4 1/4” away from the wall.

Place spacers between the wall and starter row to maintain the expansion space. Align the tongue edge of the planks with the reference mark and secure them to the sub-floor according to your installation method.

Making yourself a tapping block that works is a crucial part of how to install hardwood flooring.  A scrap piece of flooring will usually work. use it to carefully join the groove edge of the second row with the tongue edge of the starter row. Secure each plank in place as you go and repeat the process until the job is finished. Manufacturers recommend offsetting end splices of consecutive rows by a minimum of six to eight inches to achieve the best appearance

How to install hardwood flooring-Engineered wood flooring installation

Engineered hardwood flooring was manufactured for nail-down, staple-down, and glue-down installations. The advantages of engineered flooring are covered in our engineered flooring section. As with all other flooring, certain preliminary steps need to be done prior to installation.

Pre-Installation

The following information on how to install hardwood flooring is generic. It deals with areas that you must be familiar with before starting your engineered wood flooring installation. It is very important to the success of your final finished project. Please keep in mind that your particular flooring manufacturer will have product specific requirements. This section is designed to be a general guideline. You must follow your specific manufacturers installation instructions for your warranty to be valid!!! 

How to install hardwood flooring on a concrete Slab

Engineered wood flooring can be glued directly to a concrete slab, make sure the slab is flat, clean, and dry. A moisture test is recommended. Refer to our floors and moisture section for more information. Also, for this type of hard wood flooring installation most manufacturers suggest using a high quality, urethane wood floor adhesive. We have done many glue down installations of this nature and suggest you purchase nothing less than the best adhesive. It will make or break your job!

 

How to install hardwood flooring on a wood Sub-Flooring

Plywood, 5/8” or thicker, or osb (oriented strand board) is the most common sub-flooring seen. Wood sub-flooring must be flat, clean, and dry, and moisture testing should be done and levels documented prior to installation. If the sub-flooring is installed over a crawlspace, We highly recommend placing a moisture barrier of 6 to 8 mil polyurethane sheeting over the soil as a vapor barrier. If you will be nailing or stapling your engineered flooring it could go directly over the subfloor or we often use a rosin paper or thin roofing felt as an underlayment. If you will be gluing take our advice from the concrete subfloor section and buy the BEST glue available for this application!

Acclimating the Flooring

Most manufacturers of engineered hardwood flooring recommend very little if any acclimation of the material. However, the room temperature should be maintained at the normal living level. Jobsites and conditions will vary, SO be sure to test for moisture and document the readings. Refer to your flooring manufacturer’s instructions for more information.

Methods of how to install hardwood flooring-engineered

Engineered wood flooring can be installed by glue down, nailing, or stapling. It offers some additional dimensional stability over solid flooring so we often like to use it in below grade applications. The techniques run similar to those of the solid product with the exception of a slightly different adhesive may be needed for the glue down, and a different model nail/staple gun will be used in nail/staple down methods.

Laying out the job

No professional installer would start a job without a layout plan, and neither should you. Fortunately, you don’t need anything too fancy to do your own wood flooring installation,  just draw out your space on a piece of graph paper to layout a scale diagram of your floor. From this sketch you can easily determine the amount of material you will need. (again we can help you with this if you are registered for support) Most manufacturers recommend leaving a 3/8” to 1/2" expansion space between the flooring and the walls, so be sure to allow for the recommended spacing on your sketch.

Getting your hands dirty

Since wood flooring (like any other natural product) has natural color variations, when considering how to install hardwood flooring you will first want to sort through the material and decide how to distribute the contrasts before selecting the planks for the starter row. We usually recommend installing the planking parallel to the longest wall and using an outside wall if possible (as usually they are more likely to be close to perfectly square). We also recommend whenever possible installing it perpendicular to the joists. Let's remember however that we WILL consult the manufacturers specific recommendations before beginning your wood flooring installation in all cases.

Snap a chalk line on the sub-floor to make a reference mark for the starter row. The mark should be away from the wall will by a distance equal to the width of the planking, plus the tongue, plus the expansion space. For example: with a plank width of 3 1/2”, a tongue width of 1/4”, and an expansion space of 1/2”, the reference mark would be 4 1/4” away from the wall.

Place spacers between the wall and starter row to maintain the expansion space. Align the tongue edge of the planks with the reference mark and secure them to the sub-floor according to your hardwood flooring installation method.

Making yourself a tapping block is an important part of how to install hardwood flooring.  A scrap piece of flooring will usually work. use it to carefully join the groove edge of the second row with the tongue edge of the starter row. Secure each plank in place as you go and repeat the process until the job is finished. Manufacturers recommend offsetting end splices of consecutive rows by a minimum of six to eight inches to achieve the best appearance

How to install hardwood flooring- floating wood flooring

Floated installation provides many benefits. First of all, it is less expensive – no nails, staples, or adhesive to buy, and no special equipment to purchase or rent. Then there is the flooring’s ability to adapt to temperature and humidity changes. All wood and wood-like flooring absorbs and releases moisture. If it is installed by a fixed installation method, it has the potential of becoming damaged under extreme humidity conditions. High levels of humidity can cause the flooring to expand and cup, and low levels can cause it to shrink and separate.

With the floated wood flooring installation method, the planking is not anchored to the sub-floor. Because of this and the flexibility of the click-together joints, the flooring is free to expand or contract during weather changes without any adverse affects.

Pre-Installation

The following information on how to install hardwood flooring is generic. It deals with areas that you must be familiar with before starting your hard wood flooring installation. It is very important to the success of your final finished project. Please keep in mind that your particular flooring manufacturer will have product specific requirements. This section is designed to be a general guideline. You must follow your specific manufacturers installation instructions for your warranty to be valid!!! 

Another benefit of floated installations is that the engineered floating flooring can be installed over virtually any other flooring material. However, carpeting and felt coverings would need to be removed. Like concrete slabs, sub-floors must be flat, clean, and dry, and firmly secured to the joists. Prior to installation, the sub-flooring will need to be covered with a polyethylene foam underlayment. The underlayment will serve as a moisture barrier, sound reducer, and cushion for the new flooring. If there are doors that open into the room, make sure that they will clear the installed flooring.
 

How to install hardwood flooring - floating on a concrete Slab

Floating wood flooring can be installed directly over a concrete slab, make sure the slab is flat, clean, and dry. A moisture test is recommended. Refer to our floors and moisture section for more information. Also, for this type of installation most manufacturers suggest using an underlayment usually made of a thin foam. This will act as a cushion, as well as a vapor barrier if you purchase the proper type. We have done many a floating hardwood flooring installation of this nature and have had many done successfully by the do it yourselfer. Be sure and take all moisture readings to ensure they are within manufacturers requirements as in any other wood based product installation.

How to install hardwood flooring - floating on a wood Sub-Flooring

Plywood, 5/8” or thicker, or osb (oriented strand board) is the most common sub-flooring seen. Wood sub-flooring must be flat, clean, and dry, and moisture testing should be done and levels documented prior to installation. If the sub-flooring is installed over a crawlspace, We highly recommend placing a moisture barrier of 6 to 8 mil polyurethane sheeting over the soil as a vapor barrier. You may add an additional layer of vapor barrier with your underlayment as well.

Methods of how to install hardwood flooring - floating

There is no easier installation method than floated with the no-glue, click-together systems. In addition to saving you money by not requiring special installation equipment, fasteners, or adhesive, you’ll also save a lot of installation time. We believe this method lends itself best to the do-it-yourself installer. (however, that alone does not determine this is the type of floor you should buy)
 

Laying out the job

No professional installer would start a job without a layout plan, and neither should you. Fortunately, you don’t need anything too fancy,  just draw out your space on a piece of graph paper to layout a scale diagram of your floor. From this sketch you can easily determine the amount of material you will need. (again we can help you with this if you are registered for support) Most manufacturers recommend leaving a 3/8” to 1/2" expansion space between the flooring and the walls, so be sure to allow for the recommended spacing on your sketch.

Getting your hands dirty

When deciding how to install hardwood flooring you should understand that it has natural color variations that will need to be distributed evenly. Open and sort a few boxes at a time and mix the variations as you plan your floating wood flooring installation. This will give your floor the best appearance when the job is finished.

Another point to consider for aesthetics is the direction of your planking. Most manufacturers recommend installing the planks parallel to the longest wall.

Using spacers to maintain the expansion space, begin by laying the first plank in a corner with the long grooved side toward the long wall. Connect the short side of the second plank together with the mating side of the first plank, per the manufacturer’s instructions. Cut the last plank as indicated in the manufacturer’s instructions and complete the row. Use the remaining piece to start the second row. Be sure to offset the end splices of consecutive rows by a minimum of six inches for the best finished appearance. Continue the second row by connecting the short edges of the planks first then the long edges.

The last row may require rip cutting the planks to size. Remember to cut enough to create the expansion space. As with the other rows, connect the short edges first then use a pull bar to tap the long edges together.

You can find resources for manufacturer specific how to install hardwood flooring guidelines in The floor technician section. Once your floor is installed be sure to check out wood floor care, or our comprehensive flooring care and cleaning guide.

Well, we hope you have found this guide on how to install hardwood flooring helpful in understanding the different types of wood flooring installation as well as the methods and how they slightly differ. for a much more in depth look at how to install hardwood flooring consult our flooring installation guide.

If you are in need of a more step by step approach, check out our consumer support programs where we have offerings that may help you through your hardwood flooring installation step by step. And on the off chance you just are not comfortable doing it yourself now that you know what's involved in installing hardwood floor, please consult our find industry pros area and we will help you find a qualified premium flooring installation contractor in your area.

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