Thinking of replacing your floors with the elegance of wood? Here are some questions you might want to ask your hardwood floor installer.

If a homeowner decides to replace their old flooring with wood, they will need to find a competent hardwood floor installer to do the job. Some skilled homeowners or steadfast do-it-yourselfers are able to perform this task themselves. A novice will definitely want to turn the complex job over to a professional. While laminate flooring may be more geared to a weekend carpentry warrior, true hardwood floors will require substantial knowledge, tools and finesse. When interviewing tradespersons about doing the installation, here are some questions to ask:

How many floors have you installed? It’s preferable to have someone with enough experience under their tool belt. If a contractor has only built cabinets or framed houses, he or she may not have the expertise to do a stellar job on your timber flooring. Find someone with experience.

What type of hardwood do you recommend? There are multiple types of timber to select from. Oak, pine, bamboo, maple and spruce are just a few of the possible varieties. Each choice has pros and cons. Don’t forget that the wood may be stained to the hue of your preference, as well. Reclaimed lumber is another option which has become quite popular because it has a lot of personality and is good for the environment because there are no trees harmed in the making of the planks. Reclaimed timber is gathered from old barns, pickling vats and plank floors. The knotholes and unique vintage grain patterning gives this flooring high appeal.

What tools are needed for this task? Another reason to hire a professional is that they will have the proper tools for this installation. A do-it-yourselfer may think he or she can save lots of money trying to do this job themselves, but unless they have a ready supply of specific carpentry flooring tools, they will spend a chunk of change collecting what’s needed. Drills, saws, pry bars, deck screws, measuring tape, level, saw horses, floor stapler, heavy duty flooring staples, regular hammer, mallet, square, and pneumatic finish hammer with nails.

How long will it take to complete this job? It will depend on the tear-out and size of the rooms to be remodeled. If the room is currently carpeted, it will be fairly simple for the hardwood floor installer to rip out the existing carpeting and pad. The tack strip will need to be removed, as well, and the surface of the under floor smoothed and leveled. If the surface to be removed is tile, it will be more work as tiling takes intensive labor hours to strip and prepare for the installation of hardwood. Prefinished wood will take less time if it’s purchased with the stain and varnish already completed. Natural hardwood will need to be stained post-installation which will extend the time frame of the job.

What will it cost? Make certain to get a written estimate for the job. It’s best to know up front what it will cost per square foot rather than paying for labor by the hour. That way it will be up to the contractor to get the job done in a timely fashion instead of the meter ticking away adding to the pricetag.

When all questions are answered satisfactorily, check references and get ready for a beautiful new look courtesy of your hardwood floor installer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alfred_Ardis

Related Articles:
10 Questions to Ask Your Hardwood Flooring Supplier This article outlines the ten questions you must ask your hardwood flooring supplier when considering purchasing hardwood flooring. If your hardwood flooring supplier answers all of these questions in a way that satisfies you then they would be worth further researching. If the hardwood flooring supplier does not know the answers to the following questions [...]...

Hardwood Floor Installation – Let A Professional Install Your Hardwood Flooring Flooring is another aspect in home building that needs attention. Without the flooring you would not be able to move comfortably around the house. Buying a house with preset flooring is one thing but installing a hardwood floor is different. Read the Original Article Here: Hardwood Floor Installation – Let A Professional Install Your Hardwood [...]...

Hardwood Floor Finishes On A Factory Finished Floor You will find that learning about hardwood floor finishes will help you make an informed choice about the best flooring for your home. Most homeowners choose prefinished flooring, that comes already stained and sealed from the factory, rather than choosing to finish the wood after it is laid down. Read the Original Article Here: Hardwood [...]...

5 Common Floor Sanding Questions Obviously there are thousands of questions out there on sanding wood floors in Edinburgh; I’m sure its the same everywhere. Probably this article will answer your questions regarding wood floor sanding. Read the Original Article Here: 5 Common Floor Sanding Questions...

Hardwood Floor Installation: Is It a Good Choice? Hardwood floor installation isn’t a task to take lightly. You must decide if: your floor can handle the installation, you can do it yourself, and is it wiser to hire a professional. Read this article for more information on deciding whether or not to install a new wood floor. Read the Original Article Here: Hardwood [...]...

Some Types Of Hardwood Floor Installation There are four main methods for hardwood floor installation. It is usually done by the company from which the flooring was purchased, a building contractor or, in rare cases, a highly skilled amateur home renovator. If you are going to try to do it yourself, making sure you have the right equipment is a good [...]...

Miami Flooring: Hardwood Floors Vs Laminate Wood Floors If you live in Miami or South Florida in general and are considering replacing your floors with wood floors, take the time to do your homework on whether you should choose hardwood flooring or laminate wood flooring. While you may prefer the look of a hardwood over laminate wood, there are differences in the installation, [...]...

Ways to Find the Right Tile Installer Installing tile floors is not a home improvement project that just anyone can undertake. You want to make sure that you find the right tile installer, so your home floors are not only beautiful, but are also straight, functional and without problems. Buying flooring materials and installing floors is not an inexpensive venture, so hiring [...]...

Wood Flooring Installation and Refinishing Make Rooms Shine! Call Your Hardwood Contractors Today Hardwood floors have a lot going for them. They are beautiful, versatile, and best of all, they are easy to maintain. Call your local hardwood contractors today to learn more about the perks of hardwood floor installation or to have your current hardwood floor refinished to look like it did the day it was first [...]...