Have you ever thought about putting hardwood floor in your home?  Maybe you’re hesitant because of all the noise, dust and backbreaking work involved in the installation.  However, hardwood floor installation can be easy and quick with minimal disruption to your home.

Different Types of Installation

There are three types of wood floor: nailed down, glue down and floating.  This type is right for you?  That depends on many factors, including your subfloor, climate, budget, and preferences.  Keep reading to learn more about the different options for hardwood flooring.

Nail-Down Flooring

Nailing hardwood planks to your subfloor is the oldest and most common installation method.  In most cases, the planks have interlocking tongues and grooves that conceal the nails, making them nearly invisible after installation.  The things that make nail down flooring are:

  • Cost Effective

Nail down floor requires nothing beyond nails or staples and an inexpensive moisture barrier underlayment to install.

  • Permanent

With the correct installation, environment and maintenance, the chances for product failure are consistently low.

Glue-Down Flooring

Glue-down flooring is secured by an adhesive directly to the subfloor.  The glue creates a chemical bond between the subfloor and the flooring that is strong and secure.  This makes glue-down flooring feel similar to traditional nail down flooring.  Glue-down flooring offers two advantages:

  • No Vapor Barrier Required

The glue acts as a vapor barrier, meaning that you don’t need to purchase and install a separate vapor barrier.  This can reduce your materials cost.

  • Suitable for Uneven Floors

Because the flooring is secured directly to the subfloor, you can use glue-down wood flooring even if your subfloor isn’t perfectly flat and level.

Floating Hardwood Flooring

Floating hardwood flooring isn’t secured to the subfloor at all.  It is installed over a thin, cushioned foam vapor barrier.  The interlocking pieces of a floating hardwood floor form a single large piece.  The floor stays in place because of friction between the subfloor and the planks.  The benefits of floating wood floor are clear:

  • Easy Installation

Almost anyone with basic do-it-yourself skills and a few tools can handle a floating floor installation over the course of the weekend.  If you choose to hire professionals, they can often do the job in an afternoon.

  • No Issues with Expansion

Hardwood floor is a natural product, and may expand or contract based on the temperature and humidity in the room.  Because it isn’t attached to the floor, a floating floor is free to expand and contract and unlikely to split.

Hardwood is one of the oldest flooring materials in existence, but it is still among the most desirable.  No matter what your style or budget is, there is a hardwood floor option for you.  No matter what type of floor you chose, a beautiful, durable floor that you will enjoy for years to come could be just a few hours away.