Installing Pine Flooring

Installing pine flooring can be done by amateurs, especially if its an engineered flooring with tongue and groove edges. But if you aren’t a do-it-yourselfer, you are better off having a professional do the installation and finishing.

Warmth and beauty can be instantly added to any room by changing the flooring. Homeowners normally turn to hardwood flooring for their home, but pine flooring is a beautiful softwood choice that can give you the same feel as many of the hardwoods, many times at a much less expensive price. Installing pine flooring into your home can add style, beauty, and added value. If you visit older homes in our country, you will most likely find that many of them feature pine flooring in them. Where should you start in installing pine flooring in your home?

You should first choose your pine flooring. There are many different types of pine that you can choose from. These include yellow pine, red pine, heart pine, and more. Each of them features different color variations, veining, knots, and more to create different feels and looks. A simple visit to a flooring store will show you the many choices of wood that you can choose from and then you are ready to decide whether you want to stain the flooring or use a clear sealant to keep the beauty of the natural wood visible.

You need to keep in mind that pine flooring is a softwood, which means that it is more susceptible to dings and marks, because it is a softer wood. Now for most people, these imperfections only serve to make the floor even more beautiful, but some people may prefer a cleaner and smoother look. If this is you, then you may want to consider installing a different type of wood flooring.

Installing pine flooring can be done by a homeowner, but you may want to leave it to a professional. You will first want to take up any existing flooring that you have to create a smooth foundation for you to use to install your pine flooring. After you have a smooth surface, you are ready to begin the installation process.

  • Building paper or plastic membrane sheeting should be laid down on top of the foundation flooring to help keep the flooring safe from any moisture that may come in through the subflooring due to heating and cooling fluctuations.
  • Snap a chalk line to make a straight line to allow you to begin your installation in a straight fashion.
  • Begin installing the pine flooring. Place the boards end to end and side by side, but be sure to leave 1/4″ of space between the final board and the wall to allow for expansion. This can help you to keep the boards free from warping from contracting and expanding.
  • The boards are normally nailed down at regular intervals where the floor joists are. This will help to keep the boards in place.
  • Sanding and finishing is all that is left. This process will help to seal the wood and keep it looking beautiful for many years. Without finishing it, you will leave it open to damage, which can cause it to degrade to the point where you will need to replace it.

When you consider installing pine flooring in your home, you need to evaluate whether you have the skills necessary to do the installation yourself. Whether you choose to install the flooring yourself or have it done by a professional, you will have a beautiful floor that will keep its great beauty and style for many years to come.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.