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Hardwood Flooring Installation

Solid hardwood is the floor that can be sanded and refinished for generations. In a humid city it needs a bit more planning.

Jacksonville Flooring Contractors HQ puts you in touch with a local installer who can measure and quote it.

The width you choose matters more here than almost anywhere else.

Call (904) 555-0186Talk to a local flooring contractor

Narrow red oak hardwood boards being nailed down over a plywood subfloor in an older home

Slab and humidity check

Solid hardwood is normally nailed to a wood subfloor. Over a concrete slab, which most local homes have, the usual routes are a plywood subfloor over a moisture barrier, or switching to engineered wood glued down. Ask which one your quote assumes.

Why Width Matters in Jacksonville

Solid boards are about three quarters of an inch thick, and wood swells and shrinks with the air. The wider the board, the more each one moves. Planks wider than about four inches show seasonal gaps and cupping the most.

In standard widths of roughly two and a quarter to four inches, solid hardwood is a sound, often cheaper choice. For wide planks, engineered wood is usually the steadier pick. See engineered hardwood flooring installation.

What the Installer Should Do First

  • Deliver the wood early and let it sit in the rooms where it will go, with the air conditioning running, so it settles to the house.
  • Check the subfloor with a long level and fix dips with floor patch, not leftover thinset.
  • Set every old nail and screw flush or below the surface so nothing telegraphs through.
  • Check for moisture under the house, especially over crawl spaces and on slabs.

How the Boards Go Down

Solid hardwood is tongue and groove on the long edges and on the ends. Boards come out of the bundle with a natural bow, which a good installer works out as they nail. That's normal and it doesn't last once the floor is down.

Joints get staggered so no two end seams line up near each other. A full or nearly full board should land at doorways, because a short piece at a threshold is the most likely spot to fail.

Order of Work in a Remodel

Hardwood that will be sanded and finished on site should go in before you move in, since it needs an empty room and time to cure. It usually goes in before the cabinets. Carpet in other rooms goes last, after painting.

After the finish goes on, keep rugs, tape and heavy furniture off it until the finisher says it has cured.

Species, Pattern and Price

Four things drive the price: the species, the square footage, the pattern and the subfloor prep. Oak is the everyday choice. Walnut and imported species cost a lot more. Herringbone and chevron take much more labor than straight rows.

Old floor removal and any subfloor repair are separate line items. Our hardwood floor installation cost guide covers typical ranges.

Is Hardwood Right for Your House?

It's a great fit for living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. It's a poor fit for a full bathroom. With big dogs, expect a lived in look over time, which many people like and some don't.

Already have hardwood under old carpet? It may only need hardwood floor refinishing.

Get a measured hardwood quote with the estimate form or call (904) 555-0186.

Call (904) 555-0186