Home Improvement & Home Decor – InternetHomeCenter.com

Installing prefinished hardwood flooring will eliminate the fumes and odors that you normally have when you use floor finishes. It can linger in your home for weeks after completion.  A prefinished floor will give you an overall even finish without having to worry about bubbles, streaks and any uneven applications that may happen if finishing your floor after installation.  You can see immediately the beauty of you purchase when you open the box. 

There are many different types of domestic and exotic woods that you can choose for your hardwood floors.  Preparation for your new floors’ destination is essential to be successful.  If you are doing this yourself there are some installation videos available you might want to take a look at if you have never done this before.  A lot of the manufactures of hardwood flooring also give step-by-step installation instructions with your purchase.  At many home and garden, lumber stores, and also online, you can find how to videos.  Here are a few installation suggestions to give you an idea of what to expect.   

Choosing the type of prefinished hardwood for your project requires some personal preference and some common sense.  If you are doing one room and not your entire home depending on the size of the room, you color of wood may be important so as not to make your room appear too small.  Birch, Beech wood, natural Oak, and Teak are popular lighter colored wood choices.  Rosewood, Walnut, Hickory and American Cherry are very popular darker wood choices.  

Many times you can install over your existing flooring.  A floor level product may be necessary to ensure no movement under your new floor.  You can nail, glue or use a floating floor installation for your hardwood floor.  If you do not need to install a new sub flooring, a nailed installation with a resin pad under your floor will help with the natural squeaking that woods may have when you walk on them.  When using the gluing installation, always use the recommended glue from the manufacturer.  A floating floor installation will need a cork or some other type of pad underneath it and it will also need some nailing for the installation.

Preparation of your floor before beginning is essential area must be clean, dry and free of any wax or oils.  When beginning to lay your floor the first board is the most important since everything else builds on that.  A dry run to fit all the pieces together and will help you understand how it all will look when completed will be helpful.  Prefinished hardwood flooring requires less labor and you will be able to enjoy your new floor when the last board is down.