Make sure you have a sturdy subfloor.
How to install hardwood floors in kitchen.
An underlayment adds another 1 4 inch to 1 2 inch to the total flooring thickness.
When to install flooring before cabinets.
3 4 inch cdx plywood is preferred and 3 4 inch osb is acceptable.
Leave a 3 8 inch gap between the walls and the flooring to aid in installation.
Running the hardwood boards perpendicular to floor joists prevents them from sagging in the future.
Installing your flooring first also gives you your cleanest look.
Seal hardwood floors in the kitchen after installation site finished vs.
Most engineered flooring can be installed using staples full spread adhesive or a floating method over an approved subfloor.
There s a lot of pounding and placement that goes into installing hardwood flooring.
If you install the floating kitchen floor over.
As long as the surface is smooth and level technically you can install hardwood floor over your existing flooring.
Make sure not to stack the boxes and run the a c or heat normally.
Most 3 4 inch solid hardwood flooring can be installed using nails or staples over an approved subfloor.
Engineered wood a sandwich of wood veneer on top and high grade plywood below is slightly thinner than solid hardwood.
Set the boxes of flooring in the kitchen at least 48 to 72 hours before installation so they can acclimatize to the room s humidity and temperature.
Hardwood flooring installation is a big project but you can install solid hardwood floors yourself to save money with this step by step video.
Vacuum all dust and debris from the floor and smooth out any raised areas.
With the subfloor sufficiently leveled acclimate the hardwoods in the space where they will be installed.
You can cover this gap later with trim.
Consider an oil based polyurethane sealer because it will allow the wood to breathe releasing moisture.
Use fold and lock laminate floor.
Layout hardwood planks to get a feel for your layout.
You won t have to try and fit pieces around corners or worry about how flush it is with appliances.
The hardwood will simply flow underneath.
However it may be best to completely remove the old kitchen floor covering and expose the subfloor.
It s also safer on your cabinets.
Then pick all the planks back up.
How to install hardwood flooring yourself in a nutshell.
Secure the plywood subfloor jump around and find squeaky spots mark them then go back and screw nice long screws in each spot.