Hardwood flooring installation projects aren't as simple as just putting down some planks and calling it a day. Customers and contractors need to make some basic preparations before putting in hardwood flooring. If you're ready to begin a project, it's wise to take these five steps.

Reduce Airflow

You don't have to completely seal a room off, but you'll have less dust to deal with throughout the house if you can reduce the overall airflow. Close all dampers in the potentially affected areas. Plastic coverings over vents are optimal because they can reduce how much will blow around the next time you turn the air or heat on, too. Tape the edges, but do it as tightly as possible so you don't let the tape overflow into the work area.

Buy a Shop Vac

If you don't already have a shop vac, buy one. You're going to want to vacuum the dust when the hardwood flooring installation is over, and a typical vacuum may not be able to get into all the nooks and crannies.

Remove Doors

Flooring usually runs up to the doors, so it's a good idea to ask the installers which ones need to go. Once they've identified the doors you'll need to remove, use a hammer and nail to knock the pins out of the hinges. This will allow you to pull the door off. Keep the pins in bags so you can use them to reinstall the doors when the job is done.

The door trim also has to come off. A small claw hammer will allow you to lightly pry near the nails to get the trim off.

Take Off Molding and Baseboards

The hardwood flooring will run up to the molding baseboards along the walls, too. You can usually take these off by gently prying them with a small claw hammer. Be careful to not pry so hard that you break any of the materials. Also, you may need a razor or box cutter to separate the molding from layers of wall paint, especially if there have been several coats since everything went in originally.

Removing Fragile Items

You will want to clear the room where the hardwood flooring is going completely. However, you should also remove anything fragile from any of the adjoining rooms. There will be hammering, and installers sometimes bump walls while moving materials and equipment. Remove mirrors, picture frames, and other fragile items that might fall off shelves or the walls in the next room.

For more information, contact a local company, like Williams Carpet Center.

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