Factory finished hardwood so that a layer or two of sealer bridges the gaps between planks to prevent moisture from seeping between them.
How to install hardwood floors in kitchen.
Leave a 3 8 inch gap between the walls and the flooring to aid in installation.
Most 3 4 inch solid hardwood flooring can be installed using nails or staples over an approved subfloor.
Hardwood flooring installation is a big project but you can install solid hardwood floors yourself to save money with this step by step video.
However it may be best to completely remove the old kitchen floor covering and expose the subfloor.
Secure the plywood subfloor jump around and find squeaky spots mark them then go back and screw nice long screws in each spot.
How to install hardwood flooring yourself in a nutshell.
There s a lot of pounding and placement that goes into installing hardwood flooring.
If you install the floating kitchen floor over.
You won t have to try and fit pieces around corners or worry about how flush it is with appliances.
Lay the finish flooring straight onto the subfloor with no additional underlayment.
Make sure not to stack the boxes and run the a c or heat normally.
When to install flooring before cabinets.
Engineered wood a sandwich of wood veneer on top and high grade plywood below is slightly thinner than solid hardwood.
Most engineered flooring can be installed using staples full spread adhesive or a floating method over an approved subfloor.
Then pick all the planks back up.
Consider an oil based polyurethane sealer because it will allow the wood to breathe releasing moisture.
An underlayment adds another 1 4 inch to 1 2 inch to the total flooring thickness.
As long as the surface is smooth and level technically you can install hardwood floor over your existing flooring.
It s also safer on your cabinets.
Running the hardwood boards perpendicular to floor joists prevents them from sagging in the future.
Vacuum all dust and debris from the floor and smooth out any raised areas.
Set the boxes of flooring in the kitchen at least 48 to 72 hours before installation so they can acclimatize to the room s humidity and temperature.
Seal hardwood floors in the kitchen after installation site finished vs.
3 4 inch cdx plywood is preferred and 3 4 inch osb is acceptable.
Layout hardwood planks to get a feel for your layout.
Make sure you have a sturdy subfloor.
The hardwood will simply flow underneath.
Leave the hardwoods in this location for 7 10 days.
Installing your flooring first also gives you your cleanest look.