Have you decided to install timber flooring? Hardwood is popular among homeowners, as it adds a special charm to homes. The vintage look and warm tones of timber make houses look much cozier.
Nevertheless, timber flooring requires special preparation prior to installation by imposing specific temperature and humidity requirements. Only professional floor installers are knowledgeable and skilled enough to install timber floors without being squeaky and bouncy. These workers use specialized tools to prevent floorboard damage and wastage. Make sure you enquire here to gain insight into professional hardwood flooring projects.
These are the four key benefits of hiring experts for the job.
Saves you time and energy
Timber flooring installation is a labor-intensive process, taking hours and lots of physical effort to be completed. Getting prepared for installing a hardwood floor on your own by watching tutorials and reading articles isn’t enough, as the process involves multiple steps.
Prior to installing the floorboards, the subfloor has to be thoroughly prepared in order for the new floor not to be bouncy and squeaky. Also, you’ll be required to clean up the surface once the floorboards are installed. The process of timber flooring installation involves a lot of bending, which is physically exhausting for amateurs. The knees and back are particularly susceptible to the strain caused by bending, making DIY installers experience body aches in the days to follow.
Professional floor installers, on the other hand, are incredibly efficient when it comes to the installation of timber flooring. These professionals take hours, not days to get the project done, already used to the physical effort that comes with the job.
Professionals have the necessary tools
Another essential benefit of professional timber floor installation is the use of specialized tools. Hardwood floor installers are armed with jamb saws, drills, hammers, drill bits, table saw, flooring nailers, mallet, nail guns, safety goggles, brooms, chalk line, tape measure, etc. Visit this link, https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/rooms-and-spaces/floors/hardwood-installation-tools, to learn more about hardwood installation tools.
For instance, a jamb saw is necessary when installing new timber flooring for the purpose of removing the bottom of door casings. In order for the new floorboards to fit perfectly under doors, the casing has to be cut with a sharp blade. Additionally, floor installers use drills to make holes for the nails to prevent the wood from splintering by nailing directly through it. Having a variety of drill bits helps them to drill holes of the right size.
Moreover, the hammer is absolutely indispensable when installing timber flooring, as it’s used for nailing the floorboards. Besides hammers, professional floor installers use nail sets for driving the nails on the top of timber flooring. These metal tools are better suited for driving the finishing nails into hardwood, as hammers are likely to damage the timber floor surface.
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Professional floor installers use a large table saw when installing brand new hardwood floorboards. This tool is much more beneficial for cutting floorboards than a hand saw, as it makes clean cuts. In contrast, a jigsaw is only necessary for projects where floorboards have to be cut in irregular shapes.
Apart from hammers, floor installers also use mallets for hardwood floor installation. These rubber hammers are excellent for straightening floorboards, which are a bit crooked. Unlike conventional hammers, mallets aren’t likely to damage timber flooring. Also, a push broom is used for cleaning the debris and dust resulting from the use of these tools.
Since homeowners don’t own the largest part of hardwood installation tools, they need to purchase or rent them before starting the DIY project. Nevertheless, one has to master the tools in order to install the floor successfully and avoid injuries.
Proper preparation
Timber floor installers are worth hiring owing to the care they invest in the process of preparation. In order for a hardwood installation project to meet the expectations of homeowners, the site has to be carefully prepared in advance. It means proper measures need to be taken for timber to adapt to the new environment by adjusting the temperature and humidity inside the house to the necessary levels. The temperature should be approximately 22˚C in the course of two weeks before the installation.
Additionally, floor installers need to make sure subfloor moisture levels are a minimum of six to a maximum of twelve percent. In the event of high moisture content, these professionals use humidifiers to improve ventilation. In order to prevent squeaking, the subfloor has to be thoroughly cleaned, dry, and smooth before installing the new floorboards.
Moreover, floor installers provide useful advice to homeowners in terms of maintaining their hardwood flooring in optimal condition in the years to come. Given the susceptibility of wood to moisture, humidity in rooms shouldn’t exceed fifty percent. It’s natural for hardwood to experience expansion in the course of summer, as well as shrinkage during winter.
No damage and wastage
Another benefit of professional timber flooring installation is the low risk of damage and wastage in the process. The experience and specialized tools of floor installers help them install hardwood flooring without causing any damage to the floorboards. In contrast, homeowners are more likely to scratch or damage the boards by using too much force when operating the hammer.
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Furthermore, the precision of these professionals is essential for ensuring no wastage. Flooring installers cut and treat the timber with extreme care in order not to run out of floorboards. Purchasing extra flooring material is always recommended, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you should use it all to compensate for your mistakes.
Due to their inexperience and lack of precision, homeowners are more likely to waste materials. It often happens for individuals not to purchase extra floorboards for their DIY project but damage some of the boards they’ve purchased. Consequently, they end up frustrated for having to visit the store again in order to purchase extra floorboards.
Final thoughts
Hiring floor installers save time, money, and energy.
They prevent injuries, floorboard damage, and material wastage!