How To Choose And Install Solid Oak Flooring

Are you trying to figure out how to choose the right solid oak flooring? And how to install solid oak flooring? If you don’t install floors for a living, this could easily be a challenging project. That being said, we are going to break down some questions that you may have so that we can make this process easier for you, and you can finally get those long-awaited new floors!

Installing solid oak flooring in your home or business is a great way to save money and keep some wiggle room in your budget. Beyond the simple benefit of saving money, installing the solid oak flooring yourself will open up a significant amount of money, which could allow you to get a higher quality of flooring. If you know that this is the route you want to take for your new floor, let’s chat!

Choosing And Installing Solid Oak Flooring

How to Choose Solid Oak Flooring

When determining what type of hardwood floor, you need to decide if you want a solid hardwood or an engineered hardwood. The solid hardwood is great because it is precisely what it sounds like and can be sanded down and refinished over and over.

This type of flooring is beloved because it lasts a lifetime, and it comes back looking brand new with each refinish. Other benefits of solid hardwood flooring include:

• Enhanced appearance of the interior of your home.
• Durable (as mentioned, hardwood floors can last a lifetime or more.)
• They are easy to clean
• Studies have shown that buyers will pay more for a home with hardwood floors.
• Better air quality / fewer allergy issues
• Cost-effective maintenance 
• Oak is a durable hardwood that is lower in cost to many others
• You can stain it to match your decor

When choosing your solid oak flooring, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions: 

What is my budget for choosing solid oak flooring?

Am I more focused on looks or durability?

How much floor traffic will I have on the floors?

How to Install Solid Oak Flooring

If you have chosen your new flooring, it’s time to put it in. You can follow these steps to install your new solid oak flooring in your space.  

Floor preparation

The first step to installation is to clean the subfloor. You need to sweep off any loose debris, scrape away stuck materials, pull any nails that are sticking out, etc. Next, it is important to go through and check all areas of the subfloor. If any parts of the subfloor are loose, those need to be secured. 

Another part of the floor preparation is to find the location along the perimeter walls where the joists are since this is where we will be nailing the starting runs and finishing runs of the new flooring.

Floor Installation

First and foremost, it is essential to always follow the installation instructions recommended by the manufacturer.

• Use an approved vapor barrier above the subfloor and under the new flooring
• Start your working line parallel to your starting wall, making sure to allow ¾” of expansion space between the edge of the strip and the wall. This ¾” needs to be continued around the entire perimeter of the flooring. (It may be important to add more space than this depending on your geographical area, the time of year or the building’s climate control, to minimize expansion.)
• Start in the middle and work your way out on each side as you go.
• If your flooring includes random-width planks, be sure and start with the widest board and go smaller as you progress.
• If you are using adhesives as well as nails, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. 

A quick note about floor installation: You need to first choose what your starting wall is. Your starting wall will be the most aesthetically important in the room (location of the fireplace, significant windows, etc.). Additionally, it’s important to note that solid wood flooring should be installed perpendicular to the floor joists.

Have you ever installed solid oak flooring? Do you have any tips for others who are taking on this project?