How do I install wood flooring ?

Question

It's over a sub layer of concrete in three bedrooms in a raised acadian style home. I want real wood, not fake stuff. Do you think I could do it, (I have no experience) or should I shell out the extra money to have it done by a pro ?

Answer 1

I installed Bruce 3in plank in my dining room over concrete. It's pretty straightforward. You could get by with a skilsaw, but a chopsaw and tablesaw would make things easier. Be sure to use whatever glue is recomended by the manufacturer. Beyond that get on a straight wall, trowel out about 1.5 feet of glue, and start laying it in staggering the joints. Get some spacers to make sure you keep the wood about 1/4in off the wall. Also get some blue(clean release) tape. As you lay in 3-5 rows start running strips of tape across them to keep everything tight until it dries. ex. lay in 3-5 rows and tape it, lay in 3-5 more and tape them together with the first 3-5, and so on. You will also need to undercut your door jambs with something. I have a jamb saw, but it can be done with a hand saw just takes longer. YOU CAN DO IT! Good luck

Answer 2

You could lay down 2x4 sleepers (2x4 on their side) and put 3/4ply on top and put down a vapor barrier to make the installation more like a traditional installation where you put the groove of the flooring against the first wall and nail it down with a flooring nailer in the tongue and adding additional boards making sure not to line up any seams and making sure the joints fit together snuggly before nailing. Cutting around pipes isn't too hard as long as you have the time to do it right. You should be able to get some help from a home improvement place if you need it or form a website like www.diy.com
you may also wish to try using a special glue that is used to bond wood flooring to cement I have not used it however but I would imagine its fairly simple. You probably have to make sure the flooring doesn't slide around or pop up when using the glue.
Good luck!

Answer 3

Want you like to get instant access to over 16,000 woodworking plans?
Check it out https://tr.im/4f401
Along with stone, mud and animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked by early humans. Microwear analysis of the Mousterian stone tools used by the Neanderthals show that many were used to work wood. The development of civilization was closely tied to the development of increasingly greater degrees of skill in working these materials.

Answer 4

ask the guy at Home Depot. Do you have the right tools. a Chop saw?? a floor nailer? If you've never done one make sure you watch a video, Available online. atagger the joints, use an underlayment etc.

Answer 5

Horizontally works best.