Learning how to install plank flooring

Plank flooring is one of the many types of solid wood floors making a comeback in home renovation. When laminates were introduced, many new homes chose to use laminate instead of wide plank flooring. However, do it yourselfers are now realizing that planks are a great way to lend elegance and old world style to their home renovation projects. Learning how to install plank type floors can help you incorporate wide plank flooring to your home.

Special tools for installation

Before you start installing plank flooring you should gather the necessary tools. You will typically need to use the following tools:

• Hammer or floor nailer
• Eye protection
• Circular saw
• Pry bar and wood wedge
• Chalk line and chalk
• Sanding block, belt sander, or palm sander
• Jigsaw
• Tape measure
• Notched trowel
• Square
• Ear protectors
• Miter box and saw, or miter saw

The choice of power tools or hand tools is up to you – power tools make the job simpler for larger projects rooms. However, some power tools and machinery such as a floor sanders, can easily take off too much of your plank's finish.

How to install plank flooring

There are several key steps to installing plank flooring. These include preparing the sub floor, chalking lines where you want your planks, and then carefully gluing, wedging and nailing the planks in place. The key to preparing for your plank flooring is to ensure that the sub floor is flat and clean, with any dips filled to ensure your new floor will lie flat.

Once you have prepared your sub floor, ensure that the room is square. If it is not square (i.e. one or more walls has a curve in it), you will have to ensure that your chalk lines are square, and then fill in the gaps along the walls as best you can following the installation. You can nail down your hardwood flooring with special nails, which are available from many retailers.

Learning how to install this kind of floor is not a quick process, but it is one that even novice do it yourselfers can undertake. Installing planks properly is kind of like riding a bike; once you have completed one room you will have the skills necessary to built many plank floors.