Hardwood floors can give any room a sense of classic elegance and last a long time. It is important to prepare your house before installing a wood floor if you want the job to go smoothly and produce impressive results. To help you plan, it’s useful to know that preparation usually takes one to two days for most homes, while the installation itself can take anywhere from a couple of days to a week depending on the size and complexity of the space. The following is a complete guide to preparing your home before the experts arrive to carry out the work.
Clear the Room and Protect Your Belongings
Remove Furniture, Rugs, and Window Drapes
Remove all items from the floor and doorways, such as rugs and any drapes that hang low enough to catch dust or obstruct the equipment.
Take Down Framed Art, Wall Decor, and Breakables
Nail guns, hammers, and installers going through the house with heavy tools produce more vibration than one might anticipate.
Relocate Pets Away from the Work Area
Dogs and cats can’t cope when strangers are present, along with noisy tools and open doors, so have them boarded for the day or establish a room away from the work area with the door closed.
Secure Beds and Clean Out Closets or Storage Areas
If the bedroom is on the list, take the bed apart in advance and clear the closet floor. This ensures the crew can access the entire surface, including the corners that people are likely to overlook.
Disconnect Gas Appliances and Electronics Near the Work Area
Any equipment connected to a gas line or plugged into a power strip in the work area should be disconnected beforehand to prevent the crew from having to work around live equipment.
Acclimate the Hardwood Flooring
Deliver the Wood Two to Three Weeks Ahead of Time
Because wood expands, contracts, and moves with changes in humidity, it must be left in the room for a period of time before being nailed or glued in place, typically two to three weeks. Generally, homeowners are responsible for having the hardwood delivered and stored at home, but you should confirm this with your hardwood flooring professionals. If the crew is supplying the wood, ask whether they will bring it early for proper acclimation or if you should schedule delivery yourself. Ensuring the materials are on site and stored in the installation area in advance is an important step in the process.
Maintain Proper Interior Temperature and Humidity
Instead of turning off the HVAC system to cut down on your bill, keep it operating as you usually do during that period, since large changes in temperature or humidity are precisely what lead to the boards cupping or gapping later on.
Prep the Subfloor
Tear Out Old Carpet, Padding, Tack Strips, and Baseboards
When items such as the old carpet, padding, tack strips, and baseboards are to be replaced, they should be gone before the installers arrive.
Clean All Floors Thoroughly to Control Dust
First, sweep, then vacuum; old adhesive, staples, and dust left in place can affect how flat the new floor ends up.
Check for Level and Flatness, and Fix Any Squeaks
Move around the room slowly and notice any areas that are soft or make squeaking noises underfoot, since they’re easier to repair at this stage than after the new floor has been laid.
Set Up a Cutting Area
A Dedicated Cutting Space, Even for Precut Flooring
Precut flooring still usually requires some on-site cutting, such as fitting a piece to the subfloor or trimming an edge along a wall that is not perfectly square. Reserving a particular area for this purpose prevents sawdust from spreading throughout the rest of the house.
Outdoor Space or Garage Setup for Easy Cleanup
It’s perfectly okay to use a part of the garage or somewhere outside. Once the cutting is complete, concrete is easy to sweep clean, so you won’t have to track sawdust around the house for days afterward.
Account for the New Floor Height
New hardwood is generally higher than the surface it’s replacing, and this has consequences. The doors may begin to drag, the appliances might fail to slide back under the counter, and at any point where the two types of flooring meet, a transition strip will be needed. Before installation, check if any doors will be affected and consider having them trimmed so they open and close smoothly over the new floor. For appliances that no longer fit beneath counters, adjusting the height of cabinet toe kicks, raising the countertop slightly, or lowering the appliance’s adjustable feet can often resolve the issue. Planning for these adjustments ahead of time can help avoid surprises on installation day.
Once your hardwood floors are installed, wait at least 24 hours before moving furniture or rugs back into the space, and use soft pads under furniture legs to protect the new floor. Gently sweep or vacuum with a soft brush before the first cleaning, and avoid wet mopping in the first few days.
If you’re looking to hire some hardwood floor specialists, check this first.
Many contractors treat flooring as just one of many services. You should check their licensing and insurance and see if they have a record of working with hardwood, not just flooring in general. Find out about their method of dealing with acclimation, what their preparation of the subfloor involves, and what situation arises if damage is discovered when the old flooring is removed.
Vintage Stairways specializes in hardwood flooring installation and offers a range of services. We have carried out acclimation, subfloor preparation, and installation in houses, whatever their layout or the condition of the floor, and we give homeowners a clear explanation of what to expect before we begin. If you’re planning an installation, get in touch, and we’ll go over what your space requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I prepare my home before hardwood floor installation?
Preparation is a shared effort between homeowners and hardwood floor professionals. As the homeowner, you should clear the room entirely, disconnect any nearby electrical or gas-powered equipment, and arrange for the wood to be delivered in advance so it can acclimatize. You can start the subfloor cleaning and a basic inspection for levelness and squeaks, but the professionals will address any necessary repairs, hardwood flooring preparation, and final checks before installation. Most delays are due to one of these steps having been missed.
Does the subfloor need to be prepared before installing hardwood flooring?
Yes, the subfloor must be prepared before installing hardwood flooring; this is not optional. If the subfloor has squeaks, dips, or any remaining debris, these will be noticeable through the new hardwood, so the problem must be addressed at the outset rather than patched later.
Should furniture be removed before hardwood floor installation?
You should take away all the furniture, along with the rugs and drapes. The installers need the entire floor clear, and anything left behind would be a hindrance or at risk of damage.
How long should hardwood flooring acclimate before installation?
Hardwood flooring should be acclimatized for about two to three weeks in the room where it will be installed, with the temperature and humidity maintained at normal living levels throughout.What should homeowners check before hiring hardwood floor professionals?
Before hiring hardwood flooring specialists, homeowners should verify that they are licensed, insured, and have experience with hardwood, not just gene