Install and Clean Different Flooring Types
Hardwood flooring can lend a touch of class and style to any part of your home. If you feel up to tackling a project like this, then prefinished hardwood offers the great look you want with all the convenience you need. Here are some tips on installing that hardwood flooring.
First, you'll have to prepare the subfloor. Pull up any carpet or other soft floor, starting with a crowbar at the corner. Remove the tack bar from the room's perimeter, and remove any leftover carpet staples carefully with pliers. If your vinyl or carpet was glued to the subfloor, use a solvent to remove any residue. When floor is staple- and glue-free, sweep it thoroughly.
Next, install OSB (oriented strand board) on the subfloor. This is also known as wafer board, and it is a cost-effective alternative to plywood. Use a staple gun to attach the OSB, and in turn cover that with some red rosin paper, which can be found in any home improvement store. Staple it down thoroughly, and use a pencil or chalk to mark where the floor joists are located (joists are the beams that hold up the floor).
When preparing to install the hardwood flooring, measure three-eighths of an inch from where the wall and subfloor meet, drawing a line. Leaving a gap allows for the expansion and contraction that happens in hardwood flooring with the change of season. Start with the longest, straight wall, putting a board at the line you just drew. Ensure that the plank is at a 90° angle to the floor joist, which will provide the support the flooring needs.
Nail the board's end through both the subfloor and joist. You'll need to use a hammer, because a pneumatic stapler or staple gun will not reach. Continue in the same way, fitting tongue and groove together. Once you've nailed the first board, you can then use a nail gun on the rest of the planks. If you don't want to buy a nail gun, they can be rented from most larger home improvement stores. When you've finished, all that's left to do is to enjoy your mew hardwood floor!