The first thing you need to do before installing hardwood flooring is to find out what type of sub-floor you currently have. The sub-floor is the actual base floor, which is either made of plywood or concrete. This requirement is essential as there are numerous types of hardwood floor installation methods and not all can be used to all kinds of sub-floor. By determining the kind of sub-floor you have, you are automatically narrowing down your options making it relatively easy for you to decide which one is best for the application.

Depending on the method that you are going to use, you will need some tools for cutting and drilling, measuring and marking, installing, and finishing and refinishing. The most common methods of installing hardwood floors are as follows:

Nail-Down Installation. Ideal for solid wood floors. As this kind of hardwood floor is usually thicker it tends to expand and contract so that gluing it down is never a good idea. It has to be nailed down in order to stay properly in place.

Staple-Down Installation. Since engineered floorings have been growing in popularity, the staple-down installation method has also been in greater demand as this is the only perfect method to use. Engineered plank or strip wood floors should be installed over a plywood sub-floor using this method. It is important to note, however, that you have to determine the staple sizes that should go with your flooring as certain wood floors require only specific staple size.

Glue-Down Installation. This time, if an engineered strip or plank wood floor is going to be installed on a concrete sub-floor, a glue-down method should be used. In this method, it is extremely important to remember that the sub-floor should be cleaned and flat before properly bonding and spreading the glue to prevent any serious future problems.

Floating/Free-Float Installation. As opposed to the already mentioned hardwood installation methods, the boards are going to be glued together. Gluing together the boards instead of individually installing them can prove to be more beneficial. It is more stable and will be more advantageous, especially when expanding and contracting takes place, as there will be no evidences of gaps between the planks.

Whatever method you are going to employ for the installation of your hardwood floors, remember that most of the tasks should be left to the professionals.