| The Hardwood Guys, L.L.C. Affordable Excellence in Hardwood Flooring. |
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| How to Plan your Hardwood Flooring Project Preparation for hardwood, New Home Construction considering hardwood flooring, Remodeling a home considering hardwood flooring, what to expect during hardwood flooring installation and/ or sanding and finishing |
Basic Preparation and considerations for hardwood flooring installation:
Make sure all items and furniture are completely removed from the area to be worked in –
cleared space. If hardwood flooring is to be installed inany bathrooms, remove toilet and any
free standing sink from the area prior the project so flooring can be installed and/ or sanded
with optimal results, around the base of these fixtures. Additionally, if you are having flooring
work done in kitchen, and want the flooring to be installed beneath or sanding / finishing to be
done beneath any appliances or fixtures, you will want to have the appliances or fixtures
removed from the area prior to the project. Work area should be clean and clear of obstacles,
nails, staples, material, etc.
There should be proper lighting in the home.
For Installation: You should have bare, level and dry sub floor exposed (existing flooring and
carpeting removed prior to job, including tac-strips, staples, nails, glue, etc.) and baseboard
removed (this allows installation of flooring close and tight to the wall, as well as protects base
trim from damage by our equipment). Most base trim is quite easy to remove. If you would
like tips on this - you can use a razor knife to cut the paint or caulking line at the top, then use a
flathead screwdriver or prybar to "pop" it loose from the wall and continue doing that. It should
come off the wall in large sections pretty easily.
It is vital to have a completely level, bare, clean, and dry sub floor. Note - A prefinished floor will
maintain even slight irregularities of the sub floor. For prefinished flooring, the sub floor
surface must be smooth and level. Read more on prefinished flooring versus site finished
hardwood flooring.
The sub floor must be dry prior to hardwood floor installation, below 12% moisture content, as
higher moisture content could cause the hardwood flooring to take on moisture from the sub
floor, which could result in cracking, separation, or buckling.
Hardwood flooring is installed cross-joist and straight-lay as a standard. If you have another
installation pattern or direction in mind, you will want to discuss this with your Contractor in
advance.
Sub Floor:
Sub floor surface for Hardwood flooring: Solid hardwood flooring can be installed over
plywood subfloor, OSB, or over stable wood/lumber ONLY. If the subfloor is any other material,
options will need to be discussed prior to scheduling.
Options for hardwood flooring if you have concrete sub floor, or concrete slab.
You should have base trim removed prior to project start. Removing the base trim will allow
the Contractor to install and sand clean, tight, and close to walls. One alternative to trim
removal is to plan on installing quarter-round or baseshoe after the hardwood floor is
installed. This small finish molding sits at the bottom of the base, covering up the small space
between the trim and the floor.
Wood delivery and Acclimation is recommended 4-7 days prior to installation, to allow the
wood to acclimate to its new environment, inside the home (temp/ humidity), on or near the
installation area (no delivery into a garage or similar environment). Ideally the wood should be
set directly on sub flooring, so Customer must have an area prepared in the home. It Is
important that the environment in the home be at normal living conditions - dry, warm, and
stable- at 68-72 degrees for 2 weeks prior to wood delivery, as well as after wood delivery. This
will also help to assure a dry sub floor.
Because of the inconvenience that can come with having hardwood floors installed and time
constraints, many customers have the entire project completed in the shortest time period
possible with no problem, however it is recommended that there be at least a few days, ideally
one week, between installation and sanding/ finishing, so the wood can settle and acclimate
even further with respect to it’s new positioning being nailed to the sub floor. This is more
important to consider on new construction homes.
Make sure there is NO access limitations for large box trucks which deliver the wood.
Have a good-sized area prepared for delivery of the wood, by having existing flooring removed
and bare sub floor exposed, and all obstacles cleared from the area.
Make sure the home already be drywalled, mudded, textured, and primed prior to the delivery
of the hardwood, to help ensure the wood is not exposed to any higher levels of moisture while
in the home.
Make sure home is fully sealed prior to wood delivery and installation, so the wood can not be
exposed to moisture or temp.changes from outdoors.
Preparing for Sanding and Finishing of hardwood flooring:
You may want to plastic off the areas to be worked in, to help contain some of the fine dust that
escapes the sanders and vacuums, and to make clean up easier after the process is
complete. You can also drape cloth or plastic over countertops, but make sure they do not
hang into the Contractor's work space on the floor.
The big sanding machine is 230V and plugs into a dryer or range type of outlet, and will not
plug into a temporary power pole (temporary power poles are mostly applicable to new
construction).
Prepare for no one and no animals is to be in the home during sanding and finishing or during
drying time, for any reason. Fumes from finishes and chemicals may be damaging to persons
or animals during application and drying. Most finishes recommend about 24 hours of drying
time prior to re-entering the home.
No walking on the floor for a full 24 hours after application, then we recommend sock feet only
for the next 24 hours, then wait one more day before moving furniture and items into the areas
(3 days after final coat application).
Stable heating in the home will facilitate the drying and curing process, so please keep heat to
stable and warm temp of approximately 72 degrees during finish drying.
Gas and pilot lights should be turned off, as Swedish finishes are highly flammable.
If you are having hardwood flooring installed to match existing hardwood flooring, you can opt
to have the flooring installed to “butt up against” the existing flooring or to be “weaved in” to the
existing floor, thereby making one continuous floor. You will want to discuss this with the
Contractor in this case.
You can also consider flush mount wooden vents to match your hardwood floor. They should
be installed and finished at the same time as the floor.
I am Painting the walls too - When should I plan to paint the walls around the hardwood
flooring?
Again, Make sure the home already be drywalled, mudded, textured, and primed prior to the
delivery of the hardwood, to help ensure the wood is not exposed to any higher levels of
moisture while in the home.
If you plan to paint the walls during your renovation or building project, we recommend doing
this after the flooring is installed and sealed. We offer the option of pushing the final coat of
finish out to a later date, after other trades, and finishing details are completed in the home,
including painting, trim work, millwork, carpeting, appliances, etc
Finishing the hardwood flooring/ Choosing your finish: There is a big difference between the
term “finish” and “stain”. Finish seals and protects the wood, and is clear or slightly amber in
color, bringing out the wood’s natural tones and colors. “Stain” is adding color to the floor prior
to finishing, and actually changes the hardwood floor color. The main finish types we offer are,
oil based polyurethane, water based finish, and Swedish finish. You can read more on
different hardwood floor finish types.
For stairs: If you are having existing treads or risers refinished (or installed and finished), you
would want to have any spindles, ballisters, etc, if present, removed prior.
Make sure all items and furniture are completely removed from the area to be worked in –
cleared space. If hardwood flooring is to be installed inany bathrooms, remove toilet and any
free standing sink from the area prior the project so flooring can be installed and/ or sanded
with optimal results, around the base of these fixtures. Additionally, if you are having flooring
work done in kitchen, and want the flooring to be installed beneath or sanding / finishing to be
done beneath any appliances or fixtures, you will want to have the appliances or fixtures
removed from the area prior to the project. Work area should be clean and clear of obstacles,
nails, staples, material, etc.
There should be proper lighting in the home.
For Installation: You should have bare, level and dry sub floor exposed (existing flooring and
carpeting removed prior to job, including tac-strips, staples, nails, glue, etc.) and baseboard
removed (this allows installation of flooring close and tight to the wall, as well as protects base
trim from damage by our equipment). Most base trim is quite easy to remove. If you would
like tips on this - you can use a razor knife to cut the paint or caulking line at the top, then use a
flathead screwdriver or prybar to "pop" it loose from the wall and continue doing that. It should
come off the wall in large sections pretty easily.
It is vital to have a completely level, bare, clean, and dry sub floor. Note - A prefinished floor will
maintain even slight irregularities of the sub floor. For prefinished flooring, the sub floor
surface must be smooth and level. Read more on prefinished flooring versus site finished
hardwood flooring.
The sub floor must be dry prior to hardwood floor installation, below 12% moisture content, as
higher moisture content could cause the hardwood flooring to take on moisture from the sub
floor, which could result in cracking, separation, or buckling.
Hardwood flooring is installed cross-joist and straight-lay as a standard. If you have another
installation pattern or direction in mind, you will want to discuss this with your Contractor in
advance.
Sub Floor:
Sub floor surface for Hardwood flooring: Solid hardwood flooring can be installed over
plywood subfloor, OSB, or over stable wood/lumber ONLY. If the subfloor is any other material,
options will need to be discussed prior to scheduling.
Options for hardwood flooring if you have concrete sub floor, or concrete slab.
You should have base trim removed prior to project start. Removing the base trim will allow
the Contractor to install and sand clean, tight, and close to walls. One alternative to trim
removal is to plan on installing quarter-round or baseshoe after the hardwood floor is
installed. This small finish molding sits at the bottom of the base, covering up the small space
between the trim and the floor.
Wood delivery and Acclimation is recommended 4-7 days prior to installation, to allow the
wood to acclimate to its new environment, inside the home (temp/ humidity), on or near the
installation area (no delivery into a garage or similar environment). Ideally the wood should be
set directly on sub flooring, so Customer must have an area prepared in the home. It Is
important that the environment in the home be at normal living conditions - dry, warm, and
stable- at 68-72 degrees for 2 weeks prior to wood delivery, as well as after wood delivery. This
will also help to assure a dry sub floor.
Because of the inconvenience that can come with having hardwood floors installed and time
constraints, many customers have the entire project completed in the shortest time period
possible with no problem, however it is recommended that there be at least a few days, ideally
one week, between installation and sanding/ finishing, so the wood can settle and acclimate
even further with respect to it’s new positioning being nailed to the sub floor. This is more
important to consider on new construction homes.
Make sure there is NO access limitations for large box trucks which deliver the wood.
Have a good-sized area prepared for delivery of the wood, by having existing flooring removed
and bare sub floor exposed, and all obstacles cleared from the area.
Make sure the home already be drywalled, mudded, textured, and primed prior to the delivery
of the hardwood, to help ensure the wood is not exposed to any higher levels of moisture while
in the home.
Make sure home is fully sealed prior to wood delivery and installation, so the wood can not be
exposed to moisture or temp.changes from outdoors.
Preparing for Sanding and Finishing of hardwood flooring:
You may want to plastic off the areas to be worked in, to help contain some of the fine dust that
escapes the sanders and vacuums, and to make clean up easier after the process is
complete. You can also drape cloth or plastic over countertops, but make sure they do not
hang into the Contractor's work space on the floor.
The big sanding machine is 230V and plugs into a dryer or range type of outlet, and will not
plug into a temporary power pole (temporary power poles are mostly applicable to new
construction).
Prepare for no one and no animals is to be in the home during sanding and finishing or during
drying time, for any reason. Fumes from finishes and chemicals may be damaging to persons
or animals during application and drying. Most finishes recommend about 24 hours of drying
time prior to re-entering the home.
No walking on the floor for a full 24 hours after application, then we recommend sock feet only
for the next 24 hours, then wait one more day before moving furniture and items into the areas
(3 days after final coat application).
Stable heating in the home will facilitate the drying and curing process, so please keep heat to
stable and warm temp of approximately 72 degrees during finish drying.
Gas and pilot lights should be turned off, as Swedish finishes are highly flammable.
If you are having hardwood flooring installed to match existing hardwood flooring, you can opt
to have the flooring installed to “butt up against” the existing flooring or to be “weaved in” to the
existing floor, thereby making one continuous floor. You will want to discuss this with the
Contractor in this case.
You can also consider flush mount wooden vents to match your hardwood floor. They should
be installed and finished at the same time as the floor.
I am Painting the walls too - When should I plan to paint the walls around the hardwood
flooring?
Again, Make sure the home already be drywalled, mudded, textured, and primed prior to the
delivery of the hardwood, to help ensure the wood is not exposed to any higher levels of
moisture while in the home.
If you plan to paint the walls during your renovation or building project, we recommend doing
this after the flooring is installed and sealed. We offer the option of pushing the final coat of
finish out to a later date, after other trades, and finishing details are completed in the home,
including painting, trim work, millwork, carpeting, appliances, etc
Finishing the hardwood flooring/ Choosing your finish: There is a big difference between the
term “finish” and “stain”. Finish seals and protects the wood, and is clear or slightly amber in
color, bringing out the wood’s natural tones and colors. “Stain” is adding color to the floor prior
to finishing, and actually changes the hardwood floor color. The main finish types we offer are,
oil based polyurethane, water based finish, and Swedish finish. You can read more on
different hardwood floor finish types.
For stairs: If you are having existing treads or risers refinished (or installed and finished), you
would want to have any spindles, ballisters, etc, if present, removed prior.
The Hardwood Guys, Seattle-Tacoma, WA
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Seattle Tacoma Puget Sound Hardwood Flooring company offers Low Priced Hardwood Floor Refinishing, Repair, Hardwood floor Installation, Staining, Custom and Exotic hardwood, hardwood floor refinishing
Seattle, hardwood floor installation Seattle.