Things to Consider When Installing Hardwood Flooring Yourself

Installing hardwood flooring is a great investment for a wide variety of reasons. The color tones and natural grains of hardwood are appealing no matter what the décor. Hardwood is durable and can actually be refinished multiple times over its life span. Plus, that life span of 50-60+ years actually makes hardwood very affordable when broken down at an annual cost.

There is however one far and away reason that hardwood flooring would not retain its value – poor installation. Even beyond natural wear and tear or stains from red wine, improper hardwood installation is going to be riddled with a number of problems. The planks can swell and buckle with humidity changes, gaps can form which ruin looks and collect dirt, the floor can rot, the floor can make noise when walked upon, and many other issues can arise with poor installation.

As long as you take these tips into consideration however, there's no reason you can't get a full return on investment from your Easiklip flooring purchase.

Is Your Installation Room Hardwood Flooring Friendly?

As a general rule, hardwood flooring should probably not be installed in wet, humid rooms such as a bathroom or a sauna. The moisture exposure in itself is enough to cause damage to the planks but coupled with the humidity of a bathroom or sauna it's too much pressure on the dimensional stability of wood.

Easiklip can however be installed in basements provided a waterproof barrier is installed first. Something to remember is that boards must be acclimated to their installation room even if it's a perfectly dry bedroom or living room. You should set the boxes in the room for a minimum of three days prior to installation.

Make Sure the Installation Surface is Flat and Clean

Easiklip planks clip together in a floating manner for a very efficient installation job. However, one of the most important things to remember when installing any type of flooring really is to make sure the substrate is flat and free of debris. Nails and staples that are poking up will be a nuisance for years and can actually prevent the planks from clipping together. Low spots must be made flush by using a self-leveling compound as an uneven floor is very unsightly.

Have You Ordered Enough Flooring to Complete the Job?

Once you get the hang of how Easiklip planks join together the job will fly along. In many cases multiple rooms can be finished over the course of a day. Because of this it's important to order enough flooring right away – extra, if anything. You'll want all of your flooring to be from the same manufacturing batch and to avoid waiting for delivery and then the planks to acclimate to the room which can drive up any tool rental costs.

Do You Have All Hardwood Flooring Installation Equipment Handy?

Easiklip planks install very conveniently which saves you the need for a traditional flooring nailer. You'll still need multiple types of saws for cutting planks to length and making cuts around pipes and other room obstacles. You'll also need trim nailers and other finishing equipment.

Did you know: Easiklip is Your Easiest Hardwood Flooring To Install with No Experience? Click to find out why!

Another great thing about Easiklip flooring is that they come pre-stained and prefinished so you won't risk any DIY installation damage from sanding, staining, or sealing. Also, if you have any installation questions at all never hesitate to give us a call.