Many contracting professionals and homeowners alike favor hardwood flooring. Though a popular choice, those who choose this option often want to know how long the installation process is.
Overview
As a general rule, flooring industry professionals maintain that installing hardwood floors typically takes anywhere from 10 days to two weeks to complete. This might seem daunting and time-consuming. However, the bulk of this duration encompasses a step that does not involve any type of carpentry or tool usage.
Acclimation
Before a wood floor can be positioned, said material must undergo an adjustment period known as acclimation. During this phase, the wood must grow accustomed to the humidity levels present inside the residence in question.
Installing the wood when said product is drier or moister than the remainder of the home will result in untoward, aesthetically-unpleasing flaws such as:
*Bubbling
*Bulging
*Cupping
*Shrinking
Shrinkage might even lead to separation of the wood’s planks, which could precipitate unsightly and, above all, unsafe gaps in the floor.
To complete the acclimation process, wood-laden boxes are brought inside the residence, said containers are opened, and any plastic or other types of wrapping are removed from the planks. Specific directions about how to position the boxes will likely be provided by wood’s the manufacturer or the contractor performing the job.
Prior to beginning installation, it is critical to ensure the new wood’s moisture content is no greater or less than two percent of the measurement gathered from the sub-flooring material.
Construction professionals and flooring industry experts maintain that acclimation should last no fewer than five days. However, these same sages seem to agree that anywhere from one week to 10 days is better serving.
Additionally, the sub-flooring’s condition should be carefully examined before installation commences. Failing to address such issues ahead of time could result in significant problems down the line.
Actual Installation
Once acclimation has been achieved, flooring or construction teams can place the wood down. The average home possesses a range of 1,000 to 1,500 square feet of flooring. Reputable, professional teams can usually install roughly 750 to 1,000 square feet per day. Therefore, most jobs can be finished within a day or two.
Finishing The Floor
The final stage involves finishing the newly inserted flooring. During this process, the wood is first stained and then sealed with several coats of polyurethane to give said material added protection and a shine.
Other Important Considerations
The above periods are merely common averages. Several other factors could impact a specific installation process’s duration including:
House Size
Naturally, homes with larger greater quantities of square footage will take longer to complete.
Layout
Homes with awkward or uneven layouts might render installation more challenging. Contractors might be forced to work around obstacles, like fireplaces, cabinets, furniture, fixture, or other forms of miscellaneous debris.
In certain cases, unusual terrain like staircases might require more precise measurements and cuts. Such efforts typically lengthen the actual installation process.
The Sub-Flooring’s Condition
If the sub-flooring is old, dirty, or deteriorated, the appropriate remediation or replacement will be required before wood planks can be assembled.
Special Designs
Specially-designed wood like parquet often takes up to to or three times longer than usual.
Benefits Of A Hardwood Floor
Despite the potentially lengthy installation process, many homeowners still opt for this material over many other viable choices. This is the case because hardwood:
*Requires little maintenance
*Is relatively simple to clean
*Provides solid visual appeal
*Possesses strength and durability
*Lasts for longer periods than other products
*Does not experience color fading
*Improves a home’s general acoustics
Hardwood floors also possess two more distinct qualities. First, said material does not collect potentially detrimental substances, such as dirt, allergens, and pet dander the way in which carpeting and certain other products do. This may prevent incidents of allergies and upper respiratory problems in sensitive subjects. Secondly, hardwood can be refinished. When minor scratches or other discernible anomalies appear, refinishing the wood will likely eradicate these issues and make the product look new.
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