How To Flatten A Floor For Engineered Hardwood

Determine how much flooring and materials will be needed.

How to flatten a floor for engineered hardwood.

The planks glue together to create a floor that floats moves freely as a unit. Look to premium collections for those. Flat and level may seem like the same thing but a flat floor can be out of level to a certain degree and still help to create a base for comfortable quiet wood floors. Remove any carpet or other flooring.

If your style changes so can your floor. Multiply length times width of the room. If you have a vinyl floor you may be able to install your flooring directly on top of it. Better still it s competitively priced compared to solid hardwood flooring.

You need to leave a 5 16 inch gap between the flooring and the baseboard or wall around the perimeter of the room to allow the floor enough space to expand. It is constructed with multi layers of wood. Hardwood floors do need a flat subfloor surface in order to prevent them from buckling after installation. Creating a flat subfloor involves lowering the high spots and raising the low ones.

Engineered flooring goes down over a thin foam sheet which provides cushioning and sound dampening. To properly straighten flooring boards that have curled at the edges or bulged in the middle you need an aggressive sanding technique. Add about 10 to that number to account for any possible mistakes and warped boards. In lieu of a commercial cleaner mix a cup of white vinegar per gallon of warm water and use that to mop the floor being careful to dry the floor thoroughly afterwards to prevent water damage.

It stands up to everyday use. The easiest way to check the flatness of your subfloor is by using a straight 2x4 about 10 feet long. Let s learn about engineered hardwood. Adding a layer of polyurethane sealer to the existing finish a process known as refreshing the finish is a good option when light wear that hasn t penetrated the wear layer is starting to show on your flooring.

Engineered hardwood can handle a sanding and re finishing or two especially in thicker boards. Alternatives to refinishing engineered hardwood flooring there are steps you can take to delay the need for refinishing your engineered flooring. Engineered hardwood s layered construction is extra stable allowing it to withstand potential moisture humidity and temperature changes. Lay it on the floor and have a look at the edge of the subfloor.

If you ve already started reviewing your options in the hardwood flooring market then you ll be well aware that engineered hardwood flooring is an increasingly popular product. Many refinishers fit a drum sander with 20 grit paper and. Each layer is positioned in a different direction.