Installing .75 solid oak wood floors

[alex e]

Any tips for a 3 banana wood butcher? I have just my 20'X20' bedroom left without oak floors. After pricing laminates and carpet, I have decided to do it myself with solid wood. I have removed solid floors, and I have refinished solid floors, and I have mitered a zillion planks for re-installation into the current home I own, so I am familiar with fitment issues, etc.

Any experts out there? I obviously need to source the stuff first but as far as the actual install what tips would a guy need to know?


THANKS!

[archie]

I would suggest going to a library and finding a good book. Your city would have really good selection. Working around the threshold and door moldings would be the toughest area in a bedroom and everything else is generally pretty easy as long as it is straight. I would research more on finishes and the how many layers you want to put down.

[photogod]

some of the old timers used to lay down light tar paper between the sub floor and the planks. I doubt that that is done any longer. Rent a pneumatic floor nailer, keep 1/2" all the way around for expansion. Go over the sub floor and screw in any loose ply. Bring your flooring in to the space and let it acclimate to the interior humidity and temp. Let it sit in the boxes for at least a week. If the humidity is high in the wood and you nail it to the floor it will shrink and you will have lovely gaps in every plank. Get a humidifier to go on the furnace if you have forced air. It will save your wood floors as well as all your wood furniture. Get the pre finished stuff. That will save you for a couple years before a refinish. Stager the joints so they don't line up for at least three planks wide. Use a scrap plank for a hammer stop when "tapping" the planks into place before nailing. This will save the tung and groove on the good planks. I really don't know shit about floors but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Good luck, it's a no brainer.

[firetruck41]

Make sure the subfloor is plywood or OSB, not particle board. Use a hardwood floor underlayment or 15lb tar paper, especially if it is over a crawlspace or unconditioned basement. Make sure to acclimate the wood, inside your house, for at least a few days, a little more is better. Since your getting 3/4 inch hardwood, to match your existing floor, make sure you get the right kind of oak, ie. white or red, and you might want quartersawn (yes you can get it), if your house is older and has it.

[alex e]

Thank you and I will!