Laying Hardwood Flooring DIY Style Is About Preparation

Laying hardwood flooring on a DIY basis isn’t for the faint hearted, but at the same time, if you’re organised, methodical and patient you can achieve some great results as well as saving yourself a good chunk of cash in the process.  No matter whether you’ve chosen solid wood or engineered flooring, if you’ve decided to lay your new hardwood flooring yourself, on a DIY basis, here are some points which will help you plan, prepare and get the job done well:

On the basis that you’re doing this whole job on a “solo” basis and without professional support, when you choose your flooring, remember to make sure that you have chosen a flooring type that is suited to the room you’re going to lay it.  For example, it’s best if you choose engineered wood flooring in areas with high humidity or extreme temperature fluctuations such as bathrooms and kitchens.  The bottom line is, if you are in any doubt about which option will suit your room, it’s best to check with your flooring provider before completing your order.

Before you order your floor, make sure you’ve measured your room carefully and double-check your measurements.  TOP TIP: It’s worth doing a sketch of any awkward shaped rooms to help establish exactly how much flooring you will need to complete the job.  You may find our guide to measuring your room helpful.  It’s worth bearing in mind that a particularly common mistake when it comes to DIY floor laying is that people run out of boards or planks before the job is complete!  With that in mind, it’s a good idea to allow a 10% margin over and above the surface of your room when making your order.  This margin will allow for cuts and wastage (with a little on top for any slight errors which may occur).

Before you place your flooring order, make a list of items over and above the flooring that you’ll need to complete the job.  Things you’ll need to think about are the likes of: underlay, glue, nails, staples, door bars, beading, radiator collars so on.

When planning the actual laying of your floor, before placing your order, it’s essential to decide which fitting method you’ll use eg.  Gluing, nailing, stapling or floating and order the corresponding materials you need for your method.

Once you have ordered all the bits and pieces you need to get the job done, it’s worth then checking that you have all the tools you’re likely to require and make sure they’re all to hand before you start.

The final part of the preparation is to make sure that your subfloor is clean, level and dry before starting to lay your underlay or your new floor.

…and, don’t forget that if you’re unsure about any element of the ordering or laying process, don’t hesitate to seek professional help.  It’s better to ask questions than risk making expensive mistakes!