The thought of installing your own floors can feel intimidating. There are so many variables to consider: Is the subfloor ready? Which installation method is best? How do you handle tricky cuts around doorways? But with the right guidance, a hardwood floor installation is a completely achievable project. We’ve created this comprehensive guide to demystify the process and give you the confidence to move forward. We’ll walk you through preparing your room, laying the planks, and adding those crucial finishing touches. Think of this as your roadmap to a beautiful new floor, with clear directions for every step of the journey.
Key Takeaways
- Prioritize a perfect foundation: Before laying a single plank, ensure your subfloor is completely level, clean, and dry. Letting your new wood acclimate to the room’s humidity for at least three days is the best way to prevent gaps and buckling later on.
- Choose the right wood for your space: Select solid hardwood for its timeless look and ability to be refinished for generations, or opt for engineered hardwood for its superior stability in moisture-prone areas like kitchens, basements, or over concrete slabs.
- Respect the expansion gap: Always leave a 3/4-inch space between the flooring and the walls to allow the wood to naturally expand and contract with the seasons. This simple step is crucial for a long-lasting, professional installation and will be hidden by your baseboards.
What Are Your Hardwood Flooring Options?
Choosing the right hardwood floor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your home. It’s the foundation of your design, setting the tone for everything from the paint on the walls to the furniture you choose. But with so many options out there, it’s easy to feel a little lost. The good news is that these choices give you the power to find the perfect match for your home’s style, your family’s needs, and your budget.
Thinking about your options breaks down into a few key categories: the construction of the wood (solid or engineered), the finish (prefinished or site-finished), and the wood species itself. Each choice has its own set of benefits, whether you’re planning a cozy bedroom update or a complete major renovation. Understanding these differences will help you select a floor that you’ll love for years to come. Let’s walk through what you need to know to make a confident decision.
Solid vs. Engineered Hardwood
Your first big choice is between solid and engineered hardwood. Solid hardwood is exactly what it sounds like—each plank is milled from a single, solid piece of wood. Its biggest advantage is its longevity. Because it’s so thick, it can be sanded down and refinished multiple times over its life, making it a floor that can literally last for generations. However, it’s sensitive to moisture and humidity, so it’s best for rooms above ground level.
Engineered hardwood, on the other hand, is constructed in layers. It has a thin slice of real hardwood on top, backed by multiple layers of high-quality plywood. This structure makes it much more stable and resistant to changes in temperature and humidity. This makes it a fantastic choice for trickier areas like basements, kitchens, or installations over concrete slabs.
Prefinished vs. Site-Finished Floors
Next, you’ll decide if you want flooring that’s prefinished or finished on-site. Prefinished hardwood comes from the factory already sanded, stained, and sealed with a durable topcoat. This is a popular choice because it makes the installation process much faster and cleaner. There’s no need to wait for stains or sealants to dry, and you avoid the dust and fumes that come with sanding and finishing inside your home.
Site-finished flooring is installed as raw, unfinished wood. After it’s laid, our team sands it smooth, applies the custom stain color of your choice, and seals it. This method is great if you need to perfectly match existing woodwork or want a completely uniform, sealed surface across the entire floor. It offers more customization but does require more time and work on-site.
Popular Wood Types and Their Perks
This is the fun part—choosing the actual wood. The species you select will determine your floor’s color, grain pattern, and durability. Oak is a timeless classic, known for its strength and prominent grain. Maple offers a lighter, cleaner look perfect for modern spaces, while walnut provides a rich, dark elegance. For something incredibly durable, hickory is one of the hardest domestic woods available. Each type also comes at a different price point; common woods like white oak are generally more affordable, while rarer species can be more of an investment for your kitchen remodeling project.
How to Match Your Floor to Your Home’s Style
Your floor should feel like a natural extension of your home’s design. To find the right fit, consider your overall aesthetic. Are you aiming for a bright, airy Scandinavian vibe? A light-toned maple or white oak would be perfect. For a more traditional or formal space, the deep, luxurious tones of walnut can create a dramatic effect. Think about your existing furniture, cabinet colors, and trim. The goal is to create harmony, whether through complementary tones or a beautiful contrast. Our design and planning services can help you visualize different options and select a floor that truly completes your vision.
Gather Your Tools and Materials
Before you can lay that first beautiful plank, you need to get organized. Think of this as your pre-game ritual. Having every tool and material ready to go makes the entire installation process smoother and, honestly, a lot more fun. There’s nothing worse than having to stop mid-project for a trip to the hardware store. A little prep work now saves you from major headaches later. This step is all about setting yourself up for success, ensuring you have exactly what you need within arm’s reach. So, let’s walk through everything you’ll need to gather.
Your Installation Tool Kit
First things first, let’s assemble your toolkit. You’ll need a mix of basic hand tools and a few power tools to get the job done right. For hand tools, grab a tape measure, chalk line, pry bar, hammer, and nail setter. You’ll also want a tapping block and a pull bar to ensure the boards fit snugly together without getting damaged. For the power tools, a table saw or circular saw is essential for cutting boards to length, and a jigsaw will be your best friend for making tricky cuts around vents or doorways. While you can nail by hand, renting a flooring nailer is a game-changer that will save you time and effort.
The Complete Materials Checklist
With your tools ready, it’s time to gather your materials. The star of the show is, of course, your hardwood boards. Beyond that, you’ll need an underlayment if your flooring requires it—this adds a bit of cushioning and soundproofing. Make sure you have the right fasteners, which will either be flooring nails or staples, depending on your installation method. You’ll also want some wood putty that matches your floor’s finish to fill any small gaps or nail holes for a seamless look. If you’re installing over a concrete slab, a moisture meter and a moisture barrier are non-negotiable to protect your new floors from damage.
Don’t Forget Your Safety Gear
This part is quick but incredibly important. Any time you’re working with power tools, you need to protect yourself. Sawdust and small debris will be flying, so a good pair of safety glasses is a must to shield your eyes. Saws are also loud, so be sure to wear ear protection to prevent hearing damage. It might not feel glamorous, but taking these simple precautions ensures your project is remembered for the beautiful results, not an avoidable injury. Safety is a simple step that makes a huge difference, whether you’re laying a floor or planning a major renovation.
How to Measure and Calculate What You Need
Ready for some simple math? Accurate measurements are the foundation of a successful installation. Start by measuring the length and width of your room and multiplying them to get the total square footage. For example, a 10-foot by 12-foot room is 120 square feet. Now for the pro tip: always add 10% to your total to account for cutting waste and any mistakes. So, for our 120-square-foot room, you’d want to purchase at least 132 square feet of flooring. This little buffer ensures you won’t run out of material right before you reach the finish line.
How to Prep Your Room for Installation
Before you can even think about laying that first beautiful plank, you need to get your room ready. Proper preparation is the single most important factor in a successful hardwood floor installation. It’s the foundation—literally—for a floor that will look great and last for decades. Skipping these steps can lead to frustrating issues like gaps, squeaks, and buckling down the road. Taking the time to create a clean, flat, and dry surface ensures your new floors have the best possible start. Think of it as setting the stage for a stunning performance. From clearing the space to checking the subfloor, each step plays a crucial role in the final outcome. A little extra effort here saves you from major headaches later and guarantees a professional-looking result you can be proud of.
Step-by-Step Room Preparation
First things first, you need a blank canvas. Start by removing all furniture, rugs, and decor from the room. Next, it’s time to take out the old flooring. Whether it’s carpet, vinyl, or old tile, it all has to go. If you plan on reusing your baseboards, pry them off carefully to avoid splitting the wood. Once the old floor is gone, give the subfloor a thorough cleaning to get rid of any dust, debris, or old adhesive. If you uncover materials that look like they could contain asbestos, which is common in older homes, it’s best to stop and call in a professional to handle it safely.
Check and Repair Your Subfloor
Your new hardwood floor is only as good as the subfloor beneath it. The subfloor needs to be clean, dry, and perfectly flat. Walk around and check for any squeaks, soft spots, or damage, and make any necessary repairs. Use a long, straight edge to check for flatness. You’ll want to sand down any high spots and use a leveling compound to fill in any low spots. If you have a wood subfloor, it should be at least ¾-inch thick plywood or OSB that is securely fastened. A solid subfloor is non-negotiable for a lasting installation, and addressing it is a key part of any major home renovation.
Why and How to Test for Moisture
Moisture is the number one enemy of hardwood floors. Too much of it can cause your beautiful new wood to warp, cup, or buckle. That’s why testing for moisture is a step you absolutely cannot skip. You’ll need a moisture meter to check the moisture content of both your new hardwood planks and your subfloor. The goal is to have the two readings be close to each other—ideally within 2% for wider planks and 4% for narrower ones. This ensures that neither the subfloor nor the wood will cause problems for the other once the floor is installed. It’s a quick check that can save you from a huge headache later.
Let Your New Wood Acclimate
Wood is a natural material that expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity. To prevent your new floor from developing gaps or buckling after installation, you need to let it acclimate. This just means letting the wood get used to the environment in your home. Bring the boxes of flooring into the room where they will be installed, open them up, and let them sit for at least 72 hours, or as long as the manufacturer recommends. This simple waiting period allows the wood’s moisture content to stabilize with your home’s conditions, ensuring a snug and stable fit for years to come.
How to Budget for Your Project
When you’re planning your budget, remember that the cost of the wood itself is only part of the equation. The total cost of your project will also depend on installation supplies and labor if you hire a pro. Several factors can increase the installation cost, such as needing to remove old flooring, leveling the subfloor, or working around tricky layouts with lots of corners or stairs. It’s always a good idea to factor in about 10-15% extra for waste and cuts. Understanding all the potential costs upfront will help you create a realistic budget and ensure your flooring project goes smoothly without any financial surprises.
How to Install Your Hardwood Floor
With your room prepped and ready, it’s time for the most rewarding part: laying the new floor. There are three main ways to install hardwood, and the best one for your project depends on your flooring type and subfloor. Understanding the differences will help you choose the right path for a beautiful, long-lasting result. Let’s walk through each method so you can feel confident as you begin.
The Nail-Down Method
This is the traditional technique for installing solid hardwood, creating a strong floor that can last for generations. Using a special flooring nailer, you’ll drive fasteners through the tongue of each board, which hides them from sight and secures the plank to the subfloor. This firm attachment gives the floor a solid, sturdy feel underfoot. For the best hold, place a nail every 6 to 8 inches along the board and within a few inches of each end. This classic method provides a timeless foundation for any room in your home.
The Glue-Down Method
If you’re working with engineered hardwood or installing over a concrete subfloor, the glue-down method is your best option. This technique involves spreading a specialized flooring adhesive directly onto the subfloor with a trowel and then carefully setting the planks into it. It creates an incredibly stable and quiet floor because there are no air pockets between the flooring and the subfloor. This method is especially effective in areas where moisture might be a concern, like basements or ground-floor rooms built on a concrete slab, making it a reliable choice for a solid installation.
The Floating Floor Method
The floating floor method is a popular choice for its simplicity and is commonly used with engineered wood and other click-lock flooring types. Unlike other methods, the flooring isn’t attached to the subfloor at all. Instead, the planks connect to each other, creating a single, large panel that “floats” on top of an underlayment. The collective weight of the floor holds it securely in place. This approach is great for DIYers because it can be installed over many types of existing floors, which can save a lot of time and effort on preparation.
Tips for Laying That Crucial First Row
Getting the first row perfect is the key to a successful installation. The most important rule is to leave an expansion gap of about 3/4 of an inch between the flooring and the walls. Wood naturally expands and contracts with changes in humidity, and this gap gives it the space it needs to move without buckling. Use spacers to maintain this distance as you work. A straight first row is essential for a professional-looking result, so take your time with measurements. This attention to detail is what makes a full home remodel feel truly polished.
How to Work Around Vents and Doorways
Obstacles like vents and doorways are a normal part of any flooring project, but they’re easy to manage with the right approach. For floor vents, use a jigsaw to carefully cut the plank to fit around the opening, leaving a small expansion gap. When you get to a doorway, the cleanest method is to undercut the door frame with a handsaw. This allows the new flooring to slide neatly underneath, creating a seamless transition from one room to the next. It’s this level of detail that defines all our home improvement services.
How to Solve Common Installation Problems
Even with the most meticulous planning, you can run into a few hiccups when installing hardwood floors. Since wood is a natural material, it responds to its environment, and issues like humidity shifts or a quirky subfloor can present challenges. But don’t let that discourage you! Most common installation problems have simple, straightforward solutions. The trick is knowing how to spot them early and what to do when they appear. From pesky squeaks to surprising gaps between boards, we’ll cover how to troubleshoot the most frequent issues. While many of these fixes are well within a DIY-er’s reach, it’s also important to recognize when a small problem might be a symptom of a larger one. If you uncover significant subfloor damage or a persistent moisture issue, it might be time to consult with professionals who handle major renovations to ensure the foundation of your home is sound before you continue.
Prevent and Fix Gaps Between Boards
It’s frustrating to see gaps forming between your beautiful new floorboards, but this is often a solvable problem. Gaps are typically caused by fluctuations in humidity, which make the wood shrink, or by installing boards that haven’t properly acclimated to your home’s climate. For small, seasonal gaps, simply running a humidifier can often encourage the wood to expand and close them up. For larger, more noticeable gaps, you can use a color-matched wood filler, sand it smooth, and apply a matching finish to make the repair disappear. Of course, the best strategy is prevention. Always let your new hardwood acclimate to the room for at least three to five days before you begin the installation.
What to Do About Moisture
Moisture is the ultimate enemy of a hardwood floor. If it seeps up from the subfloor, it can cause your planks to cup, warp, swell, and even grow mold. This is why you absolutely must assess your subfloor before laying down any wood. It needs to be clean, level, and, most importantly, dry. A moisture meter is an essential tool for this step; use it to check the moisture content of both your subfloor and your new hardwood planks to ensure they are compatible. If you discover any dampness or signs of past water damage, you have to find and fix the source of the problem before moving forward. Skipping this crucial check can lead to a complete flooring failure down the road.
Fix and Prevent Squeaky Floors
That unmistakable squeak is usually the sound of floorboards rubbing against each other or moving against the subfloor fasteners. If a squeak appears after your floor is installed, you can often silence it by driving a thin finishing nail at an angle through the noisy board and into the subfloor. Use a nail set to sink the nail head just below the surface and fill the tiny hole with wood putty. To stop squeaks before they start, make sure your subfloor is solid and securely screwed down to the floor joists. A firm, stable subfloor is the best way to install hardwood floors that will remain beautifully silent for years to come.
How to Handle an Uneven Subfloor
Installing hardwood over an uneven subfloor is a recipe for a bouncy, unstable floor that will eventually develop squeaks and gaps. Your subfloor must be flat before you begin. You can check for imperfections by sliding a long, straight edge or level across the floor. Any high spots you find should be sanded or ground down. For low spots or dips, you can pour a self-leveling compound to create a perfectly smooth and flat surface. It might feel like tedious prep work, but taking the time to level your subfloor is one of the most important steps for achieving a professional-quality, durable hardwood floor that you’ll love walking on.
Get the Expansion Gap Right
Wood naturally expands and contracts as temperature and humidity levels change throughout the year. To allow for this natural movement, you must leave an expansion gap around the perimeter of the room. A 3/4-inch space between the flooring and the walls is the industry standard. You can use small wood blocks or plastic spacers to maintain this exact gap while you work. This space gives the wood planks room to swell without buckling or putting pressure on your walls. Don’t worry about how it looks—this essential gap will be completely hidden from view once you install your baseboards and trim, giving your new floor a flawless, finished look.
Should You DIY or Hire a Pro?
Deciding whether to install your new hardwood floors yourself or hire a professional is a big one. While the satisfaction of a DIY project is tempting, it’s important to be realistic about what the job involves. This decision comes down to a practical balance of your skills, your available time, and your budget. Let’s walk through the key factors to consider so you can make the best choice for your home and your sanity.
Ultimately, whether you tackle it yourself or bring in an expert, the goal is a beautiful, durable floor that you’ll love for years. Thinking through these points will help you get there with fewer headaches.
What Skills Do You Need?
Many homeowners successfully install their own hardwood floors, but it requires more than just enthusiasm. You’ll need a good dose of patience and a willingness to do your homework before you even start. The job demands precision, especially when making cuts and ensuring the boards are tight.
You’ll also need the right equipment. This isn’t a project you can complete with a basic toolbox. Expect to use specialized tools like a flooring nailer, a miter saw for clean cuts, and possibly a table saw for ripping boards to the right width. If you don’t already own these, you’ll have to factor in the cost of renting or buying them.
How Much Time Will It Take?
Be prepared for a significant time commitment. Installing hardwood floors is a major physical undertaking that can be tiring and time-consuming, especially if you’re new to it. It’s not just about laying the planks; you also have to account for prep work, like removing old flooring and ensuring the subfloor is perfect, plus the finishing touches.
As a rough guide, a focused DIYer might be able to install about 100 square feet in an evening. If you’re flooring a large living room or an entire floor of your house, that can quickly add up to several weekends or a full week of work. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, so be honest with yourself about how much free time you can dedicate to the project.
A Look at the Costs: DIY vs. Pro
One of the biggest motivators for DIY is saving money, and you can certainly cut costs by not paying for labor. Professional installation for solid wood floors typically runs between $5 and $10 per square foot. For a 500-square-foot room, that’s a savings of $2,500 to $5,000.
However, you need to budget for materials and tool rentals. Mistakes can also be costly, forcing you to buy more wood than you planned. A great way to save some money, even if you hire a pro, is to handle the demolition yourself. Tearing out old carpet is a straightforward job that can reduce your overall labor costs. When you’re ready to compare, getting a professional quote for your home renovation can give you a clear picture of the total investment.
Signs It’s Time to Call a Professional
Sometimes, calling in an expert is the smartest move. If you pull up your old flooring and discover potential issues like asbestos-containing materials, stop immediately and call a professional for safe removal. Other red flags include a subfloor that is significantly uneven, has moisture damage, or needs structural repairs.
Complex room layouts with lots of angles, stairs, or tricky transitions are also best left to the pros. An experienced installer has the skills to handle these challenges seamlessly. If you decide to hire a contractor, get a few quotes and check their references. A quality remodeling expert will ensure your investment is protected and your new floors look flawless.
Finishing and Maintaining Your New Floors
You’ve laid the last plank, and your new hardwood floor looks incredible. But the job isn’t quite done yet. The final steps—the finishing touches and establishing a solid care routine—are what will keep your floors looking beautiful for years to come. A little attention now prevents bigger headaches later and protects the investment you’ve made in your home. Proper maintenance ensures your floors can handle everything from daily foot traffic to seasonal changes in the Bay Area climate. Think of this as the beginning of a long, happy relationship with your new floors. By following a few simple guidelines for cleaning, protecting, and refinishing, you’ll ensure they remain a stunning feature of your home.
Add the Finishing Touches: Baseboards and Trim
Once the flooring is down, you’ll need to address the expansion gap left around the perimeter of the room. This is where baseboards and trim come in. You can reinstall your old baseboards or take this opportunity to install new ones for a fresh look. If the gap is a bit too wide for the baseboard to cover, a quarter-round molding is the perfect solution. The key is to nail these trim pieces directly to the wall, never to the floor itself. This allows the hardwood to expand and contract naturally without buckling. It’s these final details that create a truly professional and seamless finish for any major renovation.
Your Daily and Weekly Care Routine
Give your new floors a moment to settle. Wait at least 24 to 48 hours before moving furniture back into the room. When you do, place felt pads under the legs of all chairs, tables, and sofas to prevent scratches. For daily cleaning, a soft-bristled broom or a vacuum designed for hardwood floors is your best friend. Avoid using any water or liquid cleaners for the first week to allow the finish to cure completely. A regular sweeping routine will prevent dirt and grit from scratching the surface, keeping your floors looking pristine.
Seasonal Tips for Lasting Beauty
Hardwood is a natural material that responds to its environment, especially changes in humidity. During San Francisco’s damp winters and Concord’s dry summers, you might notice small changes in your floors. To minimize this, try to keep the humidity level in your home between 30% and 50% year-round. Using a humidifier during drier months can help prevent the wood from shrinking and creating small gaps between the planks. This simple step helps maintain the stability and integrity of your flooring through every season.
How to Control Humidity and Protect Your Wood
So, why is humidity such a big deal? Wood naturally expands when it absorbs moisture and shrinks when it dries out. Letting the wood acclimate to your home’s conditions before installation is the first step, but controlling the environment afterward is just as crucial. Consistent humidity prevents the wood from swelling or shrinking too much, which is the primary cause of buckling or gapping. By managing your home’s climate, you’re not just protecting your floors; you’re ensuring they remain a stable, beautiful foundation for your home for decades.
When and How to Refinish Your Floors
Even with the best care, hardwood floors will eventually show signs of wear. The good news is that solid hardwood can be refinished multiple times, restoring it to its original glory. If your floors start to look dull or have accumulated surface-level scratches, refinishing is a much more affordable option than a full replacement. This process involves sanding down the top layer to remove the old finish and any imperfections, then applying a new coat of stain and sealant. While it’s a dusty job, a professional refinish can make your old floors look brand new, extending their life and beauty.
Pro Tips for a Flawless Finish
Once the main installation is complete, the small details are what truly make your new hardwood floors look professional. These finishing touches are often what separate a standard DIY job from a high-end, custom result. It’s about more than just laying planks; it’s about creating a cohesive, beautiful surface that flows perfectly through your home. From managing tricky transitions between rooms to choosing the right patterns and materials for busy hallways, a little extra planning goes a long way.
Thinking through these final steps ensures your floor is not only stunning but also durable and functional for years to come. Whether you’re connecting a newly renovated kitchen to an existing living room or simply want to add a unique design element, these pro tips will help you achieve a polished look. These are the kinds of details we focus on in a major renovation to ensure every element of the home works together seamlessly.
How to Handle Different Floor Heights
One of the most common challenges is transitioning between hardwood and another flooring type, like the tile in your bathroom or kitchen, which may sit at a different height. Before you even lay the first board, it’s critical to assess the subfloor. Make sure it’s level, clean, and free of damage. Any issues with the subfloor will only be magnified once the new flooring is down. For a truly seamless look, you may need to build up the subfloor in one area to match the other. For minor differences, a simple transition strip or a reducer will create a smooth, safe ramp between the two surfaces.
Create Seamless Room-to-Room Transitions
To make your home feel connected and spacious, think about how the floors will flow from one room to the next. A great way to achieve this is by planning the direction of the boards. As a general rule, laying the planks parallel to the longest wall in a room can make the space feel larger. When this direction is carried through adjoining rooms and hallways, it creates a continuous, uninterrupted flow that ties your home together. This is especially important in open-concept spaces where the kitchen flows directly into the living area.
Lay Your Floor in a Custom Pattern
The way you arrange the planks has a huge impact on both the strength and appearance of your floor. The standard approach is to stagger the end joints of the boards in adjacent rows. To keep the floor strong and avoid creating distracting patterns, make sure the end joints are at least six inches apart. This prevents weak spots and gives the floor a more natural, random look. While a standard stagger is classic, you can also explore custom patterns like herringbone or chevron for a more dramatic effect, though these often require more precise cuts and planning.
Smart Solutions for High-Traffic Areas
Not all areas of your home get the same amount of foot traffic. Entryways, hallways, and kitchens are workhorses that see constant use, so it’s smart to plan accordingly. When selecting your wood, consider using harder species like hickory or oak in these busy zones, as they are more resistant to dents and scratches. You can check a wood’s durability using the Janka hardness scale. Pairing a durable wood with a high-quality finish and using area rugs or runners will give your floors the best possible protection against daily wear and tear.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for a Bay Area home: solid or engineered hardwood? This is a great question because our local climate is a big factor. While solid hardwood is a timeless choice, engineered hardwood is often the more practical option here. Its layered construction makes it much more stable and resistant to the expansion and contraction that comes with the Bay Area’s humidity shifts. This stability also makes it the go-to choice for installations over concrete slab foundations, which are common in our area.
Can I really put hardwood floors in my kitchen? Absolutely! A hardwood floor can bring incredible warmth to a kitchen. The key is to choose the right type. Engineered hardwood is an excellent choice for kitchens because of its moisture resistance. You’ll also want a durable, high-quality finish to protect against spills and heavy foot traffic. As long as you wipe up any splashes promptly, a wood floor can perform beautifully in the heart of your home.
Realistically, how long does the entire installation process take? It’s definitely more than a single weekend project. First, you need to let the wood acclimate in your home for at least three days. The prep work, which includes removing old flooring and ensuring the subfloor is perfectly flat and dry, can take another day or two. The actual installation for an average-sized room might take a couple of days for a DIYer. All in, you should plan for about a week from start to finish for a single room.
What’s the best way to clean my new floors without damaging them? The most important rule is to avoid using too much water. A steam mop is a definite no-go. For daily upkeep, a soft-bristled broom or a vacuum with the beater bar turned off works perfectly to get rid of dust and grit. For a deeper clean, lightly mist a microfiber mop with a pH-neutral cleaner specifically made for hardwood floors. This will keep your finish looking great without causing any damage.
Is it a bad idea to install new hardwood directly over my old flooring? In most cases, yes, it’s best to remove the old flooring first. Your new hardwood needs a solid, flat, and clean subfloor to rest on, and installing it over old carpet, vinyl, or another floating floor can lead to squeaks, bouncing, and other issues down the line. Taking the time to tear out the old material and properly prep the subfloor is a crucial step that ensures your new floors will be stable and last for decades.