Wondering about hardwood flooring. Installation details do's and don'ts.?

Question

Basically looking for the do's and don'ts of installation. Does the subfloor need to be perfectly level? Do you need a foam membrane underneath it? It's not the cheap stuff it's solid oak i believe. Do you need to nail it to the plywood subfloor? Do you need to glue then together at the beveled edges? I'm pretty sure it's not a floating floor it's about a half inch thick with beveled edges they dont snap together though if that helps. What about the stagger of the floor boards i notice they're not all the same length & some have different grain. Would this job be better left to a professional rather then a do it yourselfer? Can a do it yourselfer pull this off with some luck or would it just be a waste of time & wood flooring to attempt it without experience?

Tongue and groove yeah. Why would you need a jack?

Answer 1

Home Depot is the Best!!! They will even install it for you at a reasonable price too. If you want to go through the process though talk to one of the experts in that department they will give you helpful hints, and easy to follow instructions on how to install. Good luck I would have them do it?

Answer 2

If you can afford it, and it is real hardwood, get a couple estimates to install.
Floor should be as level as possible, but don't use small pieces of plywood underneath: they will cause creaking noises. Use foam throughout. Surface preparation is the key to any job. If the floor is obviously not level, consider laying a new 1/4 inch plywood subfloor using ring nails that won't lift. Under the subfloor you can build up the very unlevel areas.
Avoid glue if possible, or use as little as possible, as it will work itself up and then be visible along the joints. Do not nail. They will eventually lift and cause creaking everywhere. When finished laying floor, place small blocks around edge to avoid shifting, which is unlikely anyway if you cut the pieces carefully.
You want the boards staggered at different lengths and different grains will add a more natural look without unsightly lines of boards all cut to the same length. Allow 10% for waste lumber. It's not difficult but requires some time and is very satisfying.

Answer 3

hey matey i did it in my house laid it straight over the old floor, no need for foam or glue, you need a floor jack so the bent wood can be pressed together,( i made mine out of a car jack)
use a drill to drill all your holes, use a centre puch to hide the nails.if you dont you may split them an bend heaps of nails,,its great with diffrent sizes an grains it looks effective, were knee pads too cause youll be on your knees alot,
i then hired the floor polishers/sander.. i would do it again way more cheaper,,if you want to waste your cash hire the a floor polisher to finish it to get the right shine,,.

Answer 4

Is it tongue and groove? I would use felt paper underneath. You can rent a flooring gun and mallet.