Timber flooring is one of the best ways to add character, warmth, and comfort to your home. However, in order to get the most out of your investment, you need to install it properly. If you are planning for Timber Floor Installation Melbourne in the upcoming days, then this article will provide useful tips on how to install timber floors with confidence.
Prepare The Site
- Remove any existing flooring. This can be a big job while timber floor installation Melbourne, so if it’s not too much of a hassle, we’d recommend getting rid of your old flooring before installing the new one.
- If there’s carpet on top, remove it as well—it’ll make this process easier and cheaper in the long run.
- Check the subfloor for levelness and flatness. The subfloor is like the bottom layer of your floor: It needs to be level (so that when you put down your tongue-and-groove boards, later on, they’ll sit evenly across all four sides) and also flat (so that when you do install the boards, later on, they won’t warp underneath themselves).
- If necessary (and depending on how bad things look), you may want to add some leveling compound between studs where needed or even replace parts of the framing with low-slung lumber called “shims.” Doing so will ensure that everything sits as smoothly as possible when it comes time to put down new floors.
- Check for moisture issues in wet areas like bathrooms and kitchens; dry those areas if necessary! Water can cause mould growth under floors over time—not only does this smell bad, but sometimes this growth eventually destroys all support from below until everything caves in on itself!
Countersink the Nails
The next step is to countersink the nails. Countersinking means that you are shrinking the head of the nail to make it flush with the surface of your floor, or at least as flush as possible.
When you do this, you create a flat spot on each nail head so that when you walk on it, it won’t catch against your shoe and scratch up your floor. It also prevents moisture from seeping into cracks in your timber floors and causing damage from within.
To accomplish this task, all you need is an electric drill and a countersink bit (which can be purchased at any hardware store).
The size of this bit varies depending on how deep or shallow you want to go with your holes; some people like them just barely above their boards while others prefer them completely covered by wood filler or paint fillers.
You may also find other types of bits available—some will come with different sizes or shapes, allowing for more flexibility when choosing how much space between each hole should be created before applying any kind of filler material onto them; if so, then choose accordingly!
Install and Fasten the Boards
When you have finished the timber floor installation Melbourne of all your boards, you can now move to the nailing and finishing. To start with, you will be required to use a hammer or a mallet to drive nails into the boards so that they are firmly held together.
Do not worry about any imperfections in the floor since these will be covered by the finish coat later on. The next step is sanding down your timber floors using an orbital sander or an electric sander, depending on which type is more convenient for you and also based on your preference regarding how smooth or rough you want it as well as what kind of finish do you prefer for your timber floors?
Conclusion
There are many things you can do to make the installation of timber floors easier. Some of these include preparing the site, countersinking nails, and installing and fastening boards.
You will want to take your time during this process because it will make a difference in how long they last as well as how they look once they’re on top of other materials such as concrete or even carpeting.
Hire Prestige Floors to get your flooring job done right; get a reliable quote today!