Hardwood Floor Installation: What to Expect
It's no secret that hardwood flooring can be a bit more demanding and time-consuming to install than other types of flooring. Luckily, professional installers do most of the work for you. But as a homeowner, it is still nice to know what to expect when you arrange to have a hardwood floor installed. Don't let these intricacies of the process surprise you.
The wood may need to acclimatize.
If you choose natural hardwood planks, your installer will probably call you a few days or a week before installation and ask if they can drop the wood off. This may seem strange at first, but the wood should rest in your home prior to being installed. This gives it time to adapt to the temperature and humidity conditions inside your home. Then, when it is installed, it will be less likely to warp, bow, or pull away from the subflooring.
If you have engineered hardwood flooring, it should not need to acclimatize. This type of flooring is designed not to change shape as humidity levels change.
There will probably be dust.
Hardwood floorboards are usually trimmed down as they are installed. If natural wood is being used, the installer may even sand it down, to some degree, after it is put in place. Both of these processes cause dust to be formed. The installers usually take steps to minimize and clean up the dust. For example, they might use a shop vacuum to suck up dust as it is created. However, there may still be some dust through your home for a couple of days post-installation. Change your air filter and vacuum a few times to get rid of it.
The floor might be finished in place.
Most engineered hardwood flooring is already finished prior to being installed. But if you opt for solid plank hardwood flooring, it will probably be finished in place. If you are worried about off-gassing and want a more eco-friendly process, you can choose an earth-friendly, low, or no-VOC finish like hard wax. Or, you can use conventional stains, in which case you may need to spend a day or two outside of the home while the fumes dissipate.
Hopefully, you now know a little more about hardwood floor installation and are prepared to have this service performed in your home. Reach out to a hardword flooring company if you have any more questions or concerns.
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