Installing a Hardwood Floor
Part 2

In the first part of this article we covered preparation for our hardwood flooring installation project. Now let’s get started with the actual installation of our hardwood floors.

1. At the longest unobstructed wall is where you want to start the installation. Snap a chalk line 3/8” out from the wall. You want to leave this 3/8” gap to allow for expansion and/or contraction of the wood.


2. Pick a straight long board to begin the first row. Align the edge of the board with the chalk line from Step 1 and drill pilot holes through the plank and into the sub-floor and joist. At the point of every joist, face-nail the board and set the nail with a nail-set. Make sure the entire first row is face-nailed and don’t forget to make your board lengths random. Face-nailing the first row is imperative because the pneumatic nail can’t get down in there and the force would push the flooring against the wall and your 3/8” gap for expansion and contraction would be lost.


3. Once you have installed the first few rows, drill pilot holes down into the tongue of each board. Then hand-nail the rolls until there is enough clearance for the pneumatic gun.


4. Now, line the lip of the pneumatic gun over the edge of the board and strike with your mallet. This will drive the staple into the tongue of the board. It is not critical to make your cuts exact when installing up to a threshold. You can come back after the rest of the installation and use a circular saw to cut across the flooring for a precise cut.


5. To save time and waste, when cutting along walls, pick a piece that fits and will leave you 10 or 12 inches more. This 10 or 12 inches can be the beginning of your next row.


6. Make sure you are careful when fitting the ends together. The pieces are end matched. This means that one end has a tongue and the other has a groove. Make sure that you always cut the wall end of the board so the groove that fits the tongue isn’t cut off. Otherwise, you will have a pretty big unsightly gap. When making a mark on a board, butt the board against the wall adjacent to the hole you need to fill. Then, mark the board at the end of the tongue at the hole you want to fill. This will leave you your 3/8” expansion/contraction gap.


7. As you approach the opposite wall, the clearance for the pneumatic gun becomes and issue once again. At this point, drill pilot holes and hand-nail your boards until you no longer have clearance for the drill and hammer. Now you must drill pilot holes down into the top of the boards and face-nail these boards as well. Don’t forget to set the nails with a nail-set.
   Tip: A pry bar and extra scraps of flooring can be used to seat the boards as you nail.


8. If there is only a narrow gap for the last row of boards, measure the space and cut the board(s) length wise (rip). Once again, don’t forget your 3/8” gap for expansion and contraction.


9. Replace your shoe molding and/or baseboards and fill all nail holes with putty.

That’s it, your done! Take a break and enjoy your beautiful new hardwood floors.