Installing Strip Hardwood

Muzna · Jan 16th, 2007, 11:47 AM

So anyone here have experience?

I saw the workmen do the living and dining rooms in our house and it didn't look too difficult but I'm a little hesitant to begin it and then find that I haven't got what it takes to finish.

Mr Fraudia · Jan 16th, 2007, 11:54 AM

are you putting it on a diagonal? if so that can involve a lot of cutting. also is this hardwood, or laminate.

how much area are yo trying to cover and how many cuts do you think u have to make. for an open area where you dont have too manyt hings to cut around, its not too tough.

My advise is, that you have spent a decent amount on the material, make sure it is istalled properly, whether you do it or someone else does it.

I did bamboo on a diagonal on the entire first floor of my house, but opted to get a contractor to do the installation because I thought about the time/effort/quality/cost implications and decided it was best if I had a pro do it.

Muzna · Jan 16th, 2007, 11:58 AM

I would love to do it on a diagonal....but am not keen to do so many cuts. Mind you the room is relatively small....only 10 x 10 with one closet. (Noor's bedroom) And nothing to cut around.

And I'm not a fan of laminate so it would only be hardwood if I did it.

We did cherry on our main floor but unfortunately diagonal was not in our budget at the time....extra material and work was required and with the recent purchase of the house it was not feasible.

Mr Fraudia · Jan 16th, 2007, 12:59 PM

if it is not on the diagonal and u have a 10X10 room with nothing to cut around, u can do it yourself.

this is what u will need to do, pull the carpet and the padding, remove the nail strips, u will also have to remove the baseboards because of the added height of the wood. and put the baseboards back after u have installed the floor, sometimes the get damaged when u take them out so be ready to get new baseboards.

you may want to get a power nailer thing from a hardware rental place.

make sure you get some help in hauling all the hardwood. In my zeal to save, I had 2000 sq feet of flooring dropshipped to my house, only challenge was that the trucking company ws only going to drop it on my drive way. I neary died moving all those boxes of flooring to my garage

Muzna · Jan 16th, 2007, 02:53 PM

lucky you got it delivered.....chances are I will have to haul it home myself.....

ahmadjee · Jan 16th, 2007, 03:30 PM

In case its not mentioned already or you don't know, Home Depot & Lowe's have free classes where they teach how to DIY. They even teach hardcore plumbing and electrical stuff.

I have heard that Laminated stuff goes a long way, especially if you have kids that can run havoc on the floor, like color/scratch it.

Edit: Cost of tools like power nailer is negligible compared to the cost of the flooring. Buy your own tools!!

funguy · Jan 16th, 2007, 03:34 PM

All the stuff they do on DIY they make it look so easy to do but the reality sinks in when you actually have to do it. It's a lot of hard work that also requires some hidden talents. We desis in general are not brought up handy with our tools. I didn't know the difference between a flat and a phillips until college.

ahmadjee · Jan 16th, 2007, 03:36 PM

^

Muzna Baji, have you factored in Noor? I don't fear the work, I fear the interference every time I think about a home project.

smilestar · Jan 16th, 2007, 08:18 PM

we just installed hardwood flooring in our family room a couple of weeks back.
it was the actual hardwood pieces, not the laminate type - they're not that great.

my dad went out and bought about 8 boxes of the hardwood, rented the staple machine needed put the hardwood together, and both him and my brother had it completed over the weekend.

the hardest part is emptying the room (you're planning on doing it noor's room?), and we previously had carpet in our family room, so that was another obstacle in the way. have to rip the carpet out, take out the padding, make sure that the floor is straight.
applying the hardwood to the floor and setting it in place is probably one of the easier things.

i could send my dad over if you'd like

he loves doing home renos himself

Muzna · Jan 17th, 2007, 10:01 AM

OMG smiley!!! Would your dad do it? I would compensate him for sure!!!
I'll empty the room. I'll pull out the carpet and the underlay. Chances are the floor is level....not a very used room and the house is relatively new.

And ahmadjee, you are so very, very, very right when you ask me to factor in Noor. Nobody really seems to understand that whatever project I take on always has the 'Interruptions by Noor' factor added to it.

Mr Fraudia · Jan 17th, 2007, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muzna

lucky you got it delivered.....chances are I will have to haul it home myself.....

abay, hauling hardwood for a 10X10 room is not going to be too tough, they will help you load, and u just have to unload. I unloaded about 2000 sq fet of hardwood

but I did save a bundle

I am so desi sometimes

Muzna · Jan 17th, 2007, 04:51 PM

abay yourself....sharam nahin aati? telling me it's not going to be too tough.
stupid feminists have ruined it for the rest of us that appreciate chivalry.....

come and unload it for me and I'll come help with your unfinished tasks......

Mr Fraudia · Jan 17th, 2007, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muzna

abay yourself....sharam nahin aati? telling me it's not going to be too tough.
stupid feminists have ruined it for the rest of us that appreciate chivalry.....

come and unload it for me and I'll come help with your unfinished tasks......

toronto kis moonh say jao gaye fraud
sharam tum ko magar naheen aati

hey what are these conditions in friendship. me helping you should be unrelated to you doing my unfinished tasks, and I asked first so you should agree or disagree without putting conditions on that. I am deeply hurt.