There are a number of ways to make a home look more beautify but nothing is quite as elegant as having wood floors throughout. Wood flooring installation in Manhattan is something that can be accomplished by the homeowner but the task does require a great deal of patience and attention to detail, for this reason most people leave the job to professionals who have the skills and tools that are required for a perfect installation.
The first thing that the homeowner must do is determine what type of wood floor they want. Wood has different color and grains and can be finished in a number of ways. The homeowner must decide whether they want real hardwood floors, engineered wood floors or less costly laminate flooring.
No wood floor installation in Manhattan will end up perfect if the sub floor is not perfect, the sub floor is critical to perfect results. The type of sub floor must e considered; is it concrete or wood, will the wood floor be nailed or glued or will it float, relaying exclusively on the tongue and groove design of the boards?
If the wood floor is going to be laid over concrete the concrete must be sealed to ensure that moisture does not rise. If the floor is going to be installed over a plywood base then a paper must be laid which will eliminate any squeaks and add an additional layer of moisture protection. This attention to detail at this time will ensure that the installation goes without any hitches and the finished floor will be tight and look great.
The initial curse of boards should be laid against an exterior wall which is usually very straight; this course should leave a space of about ¼” to allow for any expansion that will take place. The first course should be anchored to the sub floor either with nails or glue. Traditional hardwood floor slats are tongue and groove design so the next course should be laid up close and gently tapped into the locking position with a rubber mallet and then nailed to the sub floor. The entire floor is done in the same fashion but there is something to watch; make sure that the cut ends are staggered, do not have to boards side by side where the ends are in the identical place.
The final part of any wood flooring installation in Manhattan is sanding and sealing, when care is taken to install wood floors the results will be beautiful and the floor will last for many years.
If you are thinking of replacing your old floor then you are invited to visit New York Wood Flooring to select from hundreds of unfinished and pre-finished wood floors; while you are there you can arrange for your wood flooring installation in Manhattan as well.