Aug 02, 2007 by just me | Posted in Decorating & Remodeling
I am considering hardwood engineered flooring to do it myself. any one have experience that would help me decide. Also, do you have recommendations for suppliers other than Home Depot or Lowes
installing hardwood is not real difficult,but you do need some carpentry skills.......you need two types of saws.........table saw and a (I call it a drop saw)........you need to draw a straight line to begin your boards,you need to know what kind of trim pieces you need for your doors and you need quarter round molding to go along your baseboards.........
you also need to leave an expansion gap of around 3/8" around all your walls and ,forgot this, you need to undercut your door casings with a saw...........
when I do it I have all the tools I need because I do it on a regular basis but the average person may not so you need to think about that before you start and if you do and feel comfortable with the idea of doing it..............
GO FOR IT................
don_vvvvito | Aug 02, 2007
Try looking on lumber liquidators.
It will also calculate the cost. I'm thinking about doing the same thing at my house. Good luck!! As far as actually doing the work.....I figure some good friends (with the know how) and a huge meal with plenty of cold beers afterward will take care of labor part!! lol
http://www.lumberliquidators.com/home.jsp
justme | Aug 02, 2007
Im installing hardwood floor planks. How do I repair a unlevel section of flooring?
Sep 12, 2007 by Aircraft tech 1 | Posted in Maintenance & Repairs
Im installing hardwood floor planks. A section of the floor is about a half of inch lower than the rest of the floor. What type of approach should I take to level flooring? If I use self leveling cement, will the staples or nails be able to penetrate this material into the subfloor?
You will not have good luck stapling/nailing through the cement leveling compound. You are going to have to either fix what is causing the unlevel spot or shim the hardwood.
You can use 1/4" plywood and or layers of 15LB roofing felt.
to shim. You might need to use longer nails in the low spots to be sure they penetrate the subfloor.
This is what my buddy who owns a flooring business told me when I did my floors.
mike b | Sep 13, 2007
How easy is it to install hardwood floor? Is it as easy as laying laminate flooring?
Aug 15, 2007 by sweets_vivian | Posted in Do It Yourself (DIY)
I have started my own flooring business. Installing laminante and hardwood. While I am experienced in laminante, I have not had the oppurtunity to install hardwood.
I will be installing prefinished tongue and groove haardwood.
That depends on whether you are installing prefinished or unfinished flooring. On prefinished it is not that much more difficult than laminate except you use nails or glue to install it. There are flooring nailers and flooring staplers and you need to know when to use which one. With unfinished it is best to leave that to someone with experiance as the sanding and finishing stages are critical to having a good looking floor. If you are interested in doing quality work, you need to do a lot more research before taking on these floors.
Bitcasso | Aug 15, 2007
What is the best cost effective hardwood flooring?
Mar 06, 2008 by Katie L | Posted in Decorating & Remodeling
I'm thinking about reflooring my family room. I want something that looks like hardwood floors but is very durable and cost effective. Basically I want this best flooring thats cheap, beautiful, and durrable and where I could find it. Thanks so much
solid hardwood is usually your best bet.
although you can spend ALOT more on it, a good floor can be purchased for around $3-$4/ sq ft. and installation usually runs another $1-$2/sq ft. (home depot is very competitively priced for wood). Solid wood will last 100 years , and can always be refinished for a minimal cost to make it look new again. Oak holds up the best for the price and can be purchased in different qualities for different prices, just look over several samples before you make a purchase- cause sometimes a sales person shows you the best sample as where some grades may have minor knots/inconsistancies.
The next best thing to solid wood is engineered wood- which is actually a very thin layer of real solid wood on top of pressed board, they hold up as well and cost around 25% less on average, and can even be refinished or renewed usually once, maybe twice with light use.
As for all these laminate style floors that look like wood- I would never recommend them for the price difference, all it is is a fancy vinyl tile on top of particle board, and yes i know alot of people are happy with their pergo- but ask them again in a few years, because those flooring options just dont hold up , and when they are scratched - you throw them away because they can never be refinished, also no matter what the great warranty on these is - they almost never actually honor that warranty because theres tons of loop holes to it. My boyfreind installed tons of these professionally and after a few years had tons of unhappy customers that thought they had a 10 yr warranty, well he replaced the floors on his own dollar to keep a happy customer and almost went bankrupt because of it. I dont care how much you spend on a laminate - its garbage.
mary h | Mar 07, 2008
Does hardwood flooring really have to be installed perpendicular to the joists under the sub floor?
Apr 08, 2007 by Lee R | Posted in Do It Yourself (DIY)
I am installing hardwood on the lower level of my splitlevel home. Have removed a halfwall between kitchen and diningroom. Would like to install flooring parallel to joists but everything I've read says to install perpendicular. They also recomend laying the flooring parallel to length of room which would put my boards parallel to joists underneath. Any tips or ideas would help.
If you could add 3/4" plywood before installing hardwood it would be strong enough. If not you will run into problems later on.
BN'W | Apr 08, 2007
Hardwood Flooring Tips
In the first situation, hardwood types of flooring are of very rich quality and also can be made use of anywhere you wish them to be, right in your apartment or in a problem building which belongs to you.
When set up in suitable settings and also occasions, the right sort of hardwood flooring can be a life saver, specially when there’re youth in the tenancy.
For individuals whose hardwood flooring need refinishing, fixings as well as installing of hardwood exemplar of flooring, a corporation such as Armstrong (www.Armstrong.com) is right and they also design software to aid clients set up offices and rooms.
There’re three indispensable hardwood floor styles. These subsume the strip flooring, the plank flooring, and even the parquet flooring. You can decide on any of them as soon as they fit their function and suit your home. It is a wonderful feeling to be qualified to buy engineered wood flooring at prices which will look like wholesale prices which are tremendous and enough to predict you that they’re your most excellent bet for hard wood flooring.
Your finest bet regarding flooring fallout’s warranty is one that covers the bare minimum of 15 years; this way you’ll be positive that you’ve really invested wisely. Laminate kind of flooring are securing a lot more acceptance day by day and this is certainly because they look like hardwood flooring; more so they are effortless to install in the house.
If you necessary to set up hardwood flooring, opt for corporations that have been famous for their more proficient work as well as experience as opposed to of firms you cannot guarantee. It doesn’t surely matter how out of this in all respects their offers look, if the corporation does not have an excellent pursue record, don’t do any dealings with them.
As a final point, when a hardwood floor is installed into a house in the proper way, it accords the place a form of natural fastidiousness of its own, nevertheless that is not all you remain loyal to gain from it; your apartment’s import in the market cannot help but be produced.
Q: My hardwood floor has a number of dark stains, apparently caused by water. Can I remove the stains or give the floor a darker color to hide them? and more »
Q. My hardwood floor has a number of dark stains, apparently caused by water. Can I remove the stains or can I give the floor a darker color to hide them? and more »
The advantages of a hardwood floor have many homeowners wanting to make that look a permanent part of their house. A new store has opened in Grand Island to
New hardwood flooring is expensive, more so if you lack the skills to install it yourself. We're talking about $24 per square yard and up, installed. and more »
Aged Woods Debuts ''Rescued Maple'' Hardwood Flooring LineAged Woods, Inc., a leading supplier of reclaimed, remilled antique wood flooring under the brand name Aged Woods®, has announced the launch of its new
Flooring
Carbonized Bamboo Line Solid Engineered Wood Hardwood Floor Flooring
Product Details
Intallation: Floating, Make final down or Glue down
Carton Sqft: 17.04; Carton Charge: $85.03
Janka Hardness Rating: 1180
Product Description
This listing is for a taste order of 2 pcs (10" x 7"). This collection features 3-ply slab solid engineered hardwood floor, 1-swathe top layer with 5.6 mm nominal micro bevel veneer, has a uniform size, very stable in construction. This slab design shows the entire beautiful characteristics of honest and classic Bamboo grains. It also has all the features of both engineered and hard wood floors which can be installed on any level of your billet by floating, nailing down or gluing down.
UV cured polyurethane and aluminium oxide anti-haphazard finish with a 25-year finish and existence-time structure factory warranty.
Ramsond RMM4 2-in-1 Air Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer and Stapler Gun
List Price: $249.99
Price: $169.99 You Save:$80.00 (32%)
Product Details
Uses l cleats and u staples
Includes all accessories and carrying state
Uses both cleats and staples
Product Description
Ramsond has hastily become a recognized name for the quality and durability of its products. The Ramsond RMM4 2-IN-1 flooring stapler & cleat nailer organization is another testament to the recognition that Ramsond tools now use. With over 30,000 units sold in North America, the RAMSOND (R) RMM4, patented aggregation 2-in-1 hardwood cleat nailer and stapler is an engineering astonished at. It shoots both cleat nails and staples. It shoots 15.5 and 16 gage staples ranging from 1 to 2 inches, and "L" cleat ranging from 1-1/2" to 2". The 2-in-1 publication has a capacity of 100 staples/cleats. It is extremely durable and contractor/industrial quality, yet inane weight and agile. The body of this gun is constructed of fixed die-cast alloy for job site durability and low authority. It comes with an extra-wide composite non-marring ignoble plate for added stability and protection against scratches to the flooring exterior. It provides a conveniently long reach deal with with an ultra-padded cushioned grip for weight and optimal operating comfort, stability and refuge. Internally, the driver blade is constructed of a very gorilla heat treated and hardened steel. The composite inferior plate designed to allow the user to effort fasteners much faster and closer to the wall while protecting the flooring skin from marring. This ergonomically designed multifunctional tool is manufactured under the firm ISO guidelines for quality control. With nearly 30,000 sold, this artefact has become a symbol for reliability and durability.
The patented sketch of the Ramsond RMM4 Two-in-One Hardwood Flooring Stapler and Cleat Nailer lets you zap both staples and cleat nails from the same gun--without changing magazines. Powered by compressed air, this decorate features patented air booster chambers for top driving force and speed. It tackles essentially all thickness of hardwood flooring and includes a non-marring base system to keep against damage. For ease of use, its durable, die-cast moderate body is lightweight and comfortable to hold.
Two-in-One Hardwood Flooring Stapler and Cleat Nailer At a Gleam:
Shoots staples and 'L' cleats without changing magazines
Operates with compressed air (60 - 120 PSI)
Non-marring subservient system and adjustable base plate ideal for hardwood floors
Ergonomic hanker-reach handle with padded grip keeps you suitable
Durable, lightweight die-cast alloy and steel construction
Accepts 15.5- and 16-rate staples from 1" to 2" and "L" cleats from 1-1/2" to 2".
The two-in-one periodical and driver system accepts both cleats and staples. Upon larger.
The RMM4 continuously stores compressed air in two patented air acceleration/booster chambers in the control. View larger.
The base system has two composite disks in front, a mid-point guide, and a rear nylon-derivative layer. View larger.
Patented Two-in-One Magazine and Driver System This dual-benefit a purposely tool has a patented two-in-one magazine and driver system that accommodates both cleats and staples. Designed for 15.5- and 16-degree staples from 1 to 2 inches, and "L" cleats from 1-1/2 to 2 inches, the munitions dump has a 100 staple/cleat capacity. Loading the fastener is irascible and easy--simply pull the magazine back, pop in on in the fasteners, and release the drawer--it takes less than 10 seconds.
Finical Air-Powered Operation The Ramsond RMM4 operates with the power of compressed air (60 - 120 PSI) and is equipped with a gauge 1/4-inch NPT air inlet for easy compatibility. To use, absolutely attach your air compressor's hose to the RMM4's air inlet, then rest the nose of the RMM4 squarely against your exertion surface to fire.
The direction and angle of the staple/cleat will be automatically aligned for faithfulness driving. And with only a slight strike of the mallet upon the actuator, the RMM4 will dash a cleat nail or staple through your flooring at the proper bend and depth.
Patented Air-Booster Chambers Most ordinary flooring nailers/staplers store compressed air within the congress of the tool. Upon mallet strike, the air reserved in the substance of the tool is released, driving the blade and shooting the fastener. The RMM4 takes this motif one step further. In addition to storing compressed air guts its body, the RMM4 continuously stores compressed air in two patented air acceleration/booster chambers located in the grip.
By storing extra compressed air, these sealed chambers protect that the fasteners shoot with sufficient force for finished penetration in the flooring surface. The booster chambers also harmonize quicker retraction of the actuator and blade when compared with regular units.
Non-Marring Base System Featuring an adjustable non-marring ground system, the RMM4 provides protection against scratches and allows you to trip fasteners fast and close to the wall. The wicked system is equipped with two composite disks in the front, a middle pilot, and a rear nylon-derivative plate. The conjunction of these three mechanisms ensures that the surface of your hardwood flooring is not marred or damaged during establishment. It also provides for tool balance and optimal positioning against the vocation surface for fast, accurate installation.
Works with Most Thicknesses of Hardwood Flooring The RMM4 series is befitting for virtually all thickness of hardwood flooring (1/2 inch, 5/8 inch, 3/4 inch, and 25/32 inch). It comes with two nylon composite infra dig plates--simply install the appropriate disreputable plate for your application.
Durable and Comfortable With over 30,000 units sold in North America, the RMM4 is positive to deliver on its promises. Designed for long-reach an agreement use, the Ramsond RMM4 is an industrial-strength power gismo that's comfortable to use. Its body is constructed of a durable, lightweight die-thrust alloy, and its driver blade is constructed of enthusiasm-treated hardened steel for long-long-term resilience. For user comfort, the RMM4 has a long-reach helve with a padded cushioned grip that offers increased control and control.
The RMM4 Two-in-One Hardwood Flooring Stapler and Cleat Nailer is manufactured under precise ISO guidelines for quality control and safety, and it is backed by a one-year commitment.
What's in the Box Flooring Stapler/Cleat Nailer, mallet, goggles, gumption of oil, four Allen wrenches, internal key/wrench, O-washer kit, two nylon composite base plates, and a muff-molded carrying case.
The stapler/cleat nailer, mallet, goggles, oil, and accessories assemble neatly in a durable carrying case.
Customer Reviews
Great Nailer at a fraction of the cost
Great nailer at a great price. Amazon quickly shipped the nailer and I opened it to find everything perfect and in place. Installed 600 sq feet of 3/4" Brazillian Cherry with no issues. I didn't have the issue that others had with having to add duct tape to the shoe to get the right angle. No problems with the mallet. The floor looks great. I would recommend this nailer for someone looking to do a DIY floor project and doesn't want to spend a fortune. Not sure how this would hold up in a contractor situation, but it fit my needs.
Nailer
Excellent product for the money spent. Easy to use and does a great job nailing into oak.
2010-08-23
| Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5
Worked well... after some modifications
This worked, but there were some issues. I had to modify a couple of things. For the 1/2 inch product I was installing, the plastic piece you put on the stapler to adjust it for 1/2 inch material was nowhere near tall enough. I had to template 5 pieces of cardboard and add thoes underneath the plastic piece to make it the appropriate height for the 1/2 inch material I was installing. I also had an issue with the sharp metal corners of the part where the staple comes out... If I wasn't VERY careful with it, it would damage the wood, simple filing down and rounding off of those metal corners solved this problem and I was able to go MUCH faster with the tool without worrying about damaging the product. All and all, after some modifications, the tool worked perfectly, the staples set in correctly and easily.
2010-08-18
| Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3
happy in middletown
I recieved my nail gun in two business days.I'm an independant contactor and was doing 920 sq. ft. of flooring.The gun worked great and I had no misfires at all. Near the end I had to tighten some screws near the head but that wasn't bad for 6000 nails. I think its a great product and looks good . I also like the no trigger feature because that can be a pain.
2010-08-05
| Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5
nice tool for the price
I highly recomend this product, using it for 3/4 inch solid hardwood using 2 inch staples has not misfired yet, excellent tool for the money.
This listing is for 2 pc(5"x 8") samples. This 3/4" proved prefinished flooring is precision milled with the highest characteristic equipment available and finished with Bona heavy-duty high quality Aluminum Oxide write 'finis' to. With 25 years Residential/Lifetime House Warranty. Carton sqft: 23.33, Carton onus: 85 lbs, SurfaceType: 40 Semigloss, Edges: Micro Beveled, Construction: Indisputable Design, Install Type: Nail Down.
Hardwood Flooring Cinnamon Maple Floors Maple 3/4" Floor Solid Prefinished Wood
Product Description
Limited Series Chesterfield Maple Solid by Artisan Floors. I go over: Lifeless subfloor. I can be: Nailed down. I am: Solid Hardwood. 3/4" x 3 5/8" x Casual. Janka Hardness Rating: 1450, Vernacular & Groove Type: Precision milled 4 sided Creole and groove, Edge Design: Micro-Beveled, On the up Feet per carton: 13.95, Structural Deployment: On grade or above grade, RadiantHeat: No, Warranty: 25 year get into warranty/lifetime structural. A construction detail benefit noting is the increased amount of usable/sandable Maple on this 3/4" thick lower limit. The tongue and groove have been placed lower on the slab leaving a thicker sandable surface which makes this 3/4 swarming floor capable of an additional sanding in its lifetime, giving the flooring an even longer care life. Specially designed relief cuts on the bottom are added to take precautions increased stability to the structure of the plank, giving it a lifetime structural covenant.
The Do-It-Yourself Guide To Hardwood Flooring II Pre-Finished: Everything you need to know to select, prep, and install pre-finished hardwood flooring. (Volume 1)
List Price: $19.95
Price: $19.95
Product Description
70 pages, with color photographs and diagrams to better you select the right hardwood for your project. Includes bumf and forms on selection, estimating, budgeting, tools & supplies needed, preparation, base, and more.
Customer Reviews
Concise and easy to follow instructions
I'm handy but was looking for a book with good pointers for my hardwood project. The book was very helpful. Step-by-step from start to finish. Well worth its cost.
Good for planning but lacking for installation guide.
The book has some good information on wood types and characteristics of wood floors. It let me down on content regarding the actual installation experience, especially from an author with 20 plus years experience. You can get more from the hardwood floor manufacturer's installation recommendations and doing a Internet search. I would not recommend this book to a friend.
Some good material but short on content
This is a very amateur effort. I didn't gain much (if any) information over and above other recent flooring books.
2009-12-27
(USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3
Hardwood Flooring Review
This is a great, practical, step-by-step guide to hardwood floors. It discusses everything from choosing the right wood, measuring properly, installation, staining and finishing. It is complete with checklists and "how to" pictures. I would highly recommend this guide.The Do-It-Yourself Guide To Hardwood Flooring: Everything You Need To Know To Install, Sand, And Finish Hardwood Flooring
Nice and Specific!
A lot of Do-It-Yourself books are too general. This one is specific with great tips. The measuring and estimating chapter alone is worth buying the book. I also made good use of the checklists at the end of each chapter - nice extra bonus!
Let Lowes avoid you install your hard wood floors.
Armstrong Hardwood Flooring laying off 260 in Scott County
04.09.10
KNOXVILLE -- Armstrong Hardwood Flooring Co., a bigger employer in Scott County, said today it is idling part of its running in Oneida and laying off 260 workers outstanding April 9.
The circle will idle its plunder mill, finish borderline and yard operations at its establish on Hartco Handle, but will continue its parquet, rout care, chemical set out and warehousing operations that occupy about 110 people, said Beth A. Riley, corporate spokeswoman for Armstrong Sphere Industries in Lancaster, Pa.
Riley said the actions were bewitched because of declining order in the company’s markets.
“We be having to significantly range back operations in Oneida. We deliberate over this an action of last remedy have recourse to in response to going round business conditions,” Riley said in an e-letters statement.
This was the latest of several rounds of layoffs at the Oneida in force. Citing the decline of the houses market and extended economic downturn, the company laid of 113 workers in May, 2008 and laid off about 50 people in 2007 when it closed an working on Industrial Lane.
New hardwood flooring is expensive, more so if you lack the skills to install it yourself. We're talking about $24 per square yard and up, installed. and more »
