Installation Factors for Hardwood Floors Video

Video Overview: Hardwood Installation Factors

1. Installation Methods

• • Hardwood floors can be installed three different ways: glued down, as a floating floor or nailed down.
  • The glued-down method only works for engineered hardwood - which is a thin piece of wood mounted on plywood backing. It can be laid over the existing floor or on cement.
  • Floating floors is also an installation option for engineered hardwood. It does not need a perfectly smooth sub-floor and can be installed over concrete or existing flooring. It is a good option for a room that may have moisture in the floor.
  • The nailed down method can be used for either solid hardwood or engineered hardwood. Each individual piece is nailed into the floor.

1. Wood Finishing Methods

• • There are also three typed of finishing treatments: prefinished, finished on-site or refinished.
  • Prefinished wood is a top choice of homeowners because they do not need to leave home during the installation. The wood arrives at the house already stained and finished - ready for a quick and easy installation.
  • Homeowners may need to leave home or move out for a short time with finished on-site installation. In these installations, the raw wood is installed and then sanded, stained and sealed. Homeowners will need to be prepared for lout noise, strong odors and plenty of dust.
  • Refinishing is an option for pre-existing wood floors. In this case, the wood is sanded and then treated like finished on-site hardwood. It is messy, but homeowners save money by only paying for the labor - not the wood.