Hardwood Flooring Installation Tips

* Before installing your hardwood floor, make sure that the sub-floor is secure, clean, level and free of squeaks. If necessary, screw down areas where squeaking occurs.
* Use a moisture meter to determine the moisture in both the sub-floor as well as the flooring. It is important that the difference in moisture between the sub-floor and flooring not be greater than 4%. Always bring in your flooring few days prior installation.
* Roll out enough 15 LB builders felt paper to cover the sub-floor and trim the edges. The paper can be loose laid as it is not necessary to fasten it to the sub-floor.
* Open one box of flooring at a time. From the first box, pick out the longest and straightest boards for the starter row.
* Once again, check the moisture content of your flooring using the moisture meter. The moisture content should be between 6-9% depending on your location.
* You are required to leave an expansion gap at the starting and ending rows. This gap should be equal to the thickness of the flooring that you are installing. The correct way to measure your starting row for lets say, flooring that is 3/4" thick and 2 1/4" wide, would be to measure out from the wall 3" and snap a chalk line. Line up your first row (with the tongue facing out) on the chalk mark and you will then be left with the correct 3/4" expansion gap.
* Drill pilot holes 2-3" from the ends of each board and every 8-10" along the board and fasten the board down with 2" finish nails. Whenever you have driven a nail into the surface, be sure to repeat the process on the top of the tongue at a 45 degree angle - this is called blind nailing.
* After blind nailing the second and third rows, you are now ready to get some help and begin using the Primatech nailing tool of your choice, thus making the rest of the installation much easier.
* Lay out the flooring on the sub-floor using the various lengths found in the box. It is very important to make sure that the end joints are at least 6" or more from the end joints of the row behind.
* Using the rubber end of the mallet, drive the uninstalled row up tight to the rest of the installed floor.
* Using your Primatech nailer and the rubber end of the mallet, nail the floor every 8-10" and 2-3" from the ends of each board. Always make sure that there are at least two nail in every board regardless of the length of the board.
* When measuring the boards to fit at the end of the row, use a board that is longer than the space. Flip it upside down so that the tongue is now facing towards the installed boards. Make a mark and then transfer the mark to the surface of the board. Using an electric chop saw, carefully cut the board at the mark that you made.
* Install the board and use the piece that you cut off to begin the next row.
* When you reach the end of the room and cannot swing the mallet freely, you will have to repeat - in reverse - the method that you began your installation. Using the drill and hammer, continue to blind nail by hand. Countersink all the surface nails in the first and last rows and fill them with wood putty.
* Install now the quarter round, which will cover the expansion gaps. It is very important that you anchor them to the wall or base board and NOT to the floor.
* Using the manufacturers recommended floor cleaner, remove any scuff marks that you might have made during the installation and clean the entire floor.
* Using Primatech nails and nailers makes the installation of your beautiful new hardwood floor easy and affordable; so insist on Primatech to protect your long term investment.