If you are replacing an old wall to wall carpet or laminate flooring with hardwood flooring, then you will need to prepare ahead of time. A new hardwood flooring installation is a large project. Hardwood floors will improve the value of your home, but they require that you do some research ahead of time.
In order to get the best hardwood flooring installation possible, make sure to consider the following questions and know what choices you will be making.
Choosing an Underlayment
Before you install any type of hardwood flooring you will need to choose the proper underlayment. It's important that you choose the correct underlayment as that will determine if the flooring sits properly in your home. Some underlayment's are best for sound proofing, others are better suited for moisture absorption. The particular underlayment you choose will depend on different circumstances. It's a good idea to consult with your flooring contractor as they will have the best knowledge to assist you.
Hardwood Flooring vs Engineered Flooring
It's important to know what you are buying when it comes to wood flooring. Hardwood flooring refers to solid hardwood. It's durable, beautiful, and easy to repair. Engineered flooring is a type of wood flooring that appears similar to hardwood flooring but does not cost as much. It's a bit easier to maintain; however, it is not as durable. When you are considering your flooring options, make sure that you discuss the different pros and cons with your lumber supplier.
Choosing a Protective Coating: Poly vs Mineral Oil
Once you've decided on a hardwood flooring, it's important to decide on a protective coating. Most people would recommend polyurethane. The benefit to using polyurethane is that it's virtually maintenance free. Older styles of protective coatings such as mineral oils require frequent maintenance. This sort of upkeep can be tiresome. Polyurethane is resistant to moisture and scratches, whereas mineral oil and wax coatings need to be constantly repaired.
Hardwood Flooring Installation Options: Glued Down, Floating, or Nailed
The final decision when it comes to your hardwood flooring is how you will have it installed. There are three basic options when it comes to hardwood flooring. You can have the hardwood flooring nailed down to your subfloor, you can have the hardwood flooring glued down, or you can have a floating floor installed. Hardwood flooring that is nailed down will require the least amount of maintenance as it's the most durable. However, if you have a concrete base floor, you might have to opt for a glued down floor or a floating floor. Discuss these different options with your hardwood flooring installer and decide on which option is best for you.
For more information about new hardwood floor installations, reach out to a local service.
Choosing flooring can be quite a challenge, mainly because you have so many options. On the lower end of the cost spectrum, you have things like sheet vinyl and vinyl tile. On the higher end of the cost spectrum, you have stone and ceramic tile. Then, there's carpet. It's installed over a subfloor, but most people do consider it to be a separate type of flooring. You can read more about flooring on this blog, equipping yourself to make a better decision about the flooring that's right for your home. You'll then have a better idea of what questions to ask and what factors to consider as you choose a floor.