Installing a hardwood floor is a great way to change or update the look of a room. Unlike carpet, a nice hardwood floor is something that can be kept looking nice for generations. Wood flooring is also something that you can install yourself. In this post, we will go over choosing the DIY option and the type of flooring you will use.
DIY or Professional Installation
Whether to do it yourself or pay for installation is a question of time and money. You will definitely save money by doing it yourself, but it will take time and a bit of elbow grease. If this is your first time installing a hardwood floor, you will need to include extra time until you get the hang of things. After your first couple of hours, you will be better able to estimate how long the project will take and what needs to be done to install hardwood floor!
Your Flooring Options
There are nearly endless options for wood flooring. You have to consider the type of wood you want. Different woods can give your home an entirely different look and feel. Some of your options are below:
- Traditional woods like Maple or Pine
- Exotic woods like Brazilian Teak or Amendoim
- Engineered wood flooring
- Sustainable wood such as bamboo
- Reclaimed wood
- Wood laminate
- Other ceramic or linoleum wood look flooring
The type of wood isn’t the only thing that makes selecting your flooring a daunting task. Every different wood option has different aspects as well. When you are purchasing your flooring you will want to consider the following:
- Traffic flow in your home
- The texture and finish you want
- Whether or not it will be in direct sunlight
- What kind of sub-flooring you have
- Whether you will be laying it in a particularly humid or dry area that might not be suitable for certain woods
Going over these with someone who is knowledgeable at a wood flooring supply showroom is highly suggested. They can help you make the right decision for your circumstances and intended look.
Ordering Your Flooring
When you order your flooring, be sure to order more than your square footage. There are several reasons for this.
- Some planks may have natural discolorations, blemishes or knots that you may not want to use.
- You will most likely cut at least a couple boards incorrectly if this is your first time installing a hardwood floor.
- You will want to have leftover flooring once you are done in case there is an area that becomes damaged so that you can replace or repair it.
Be sure to find out if delivery is included. If it is not, then simply renting a trailer or a truck for the day may be a much cheaper option for getting it to your home, and then you don’t have to wait. The delivery happens on your schedule.
For more information please be sure to join us next week when we will continue with part 2 where we will be discussing the preparations you will need to take and some tips for when you actually install the floor.
Have you ever installed a hardwood floor? Did you install it yourself? What type of flooring did you choose? Let us know in the comments below.
