How To Lay A Wooden Floor On Joists

While personal preference is a factor the direction in which you run hardwood flooring boards is governed by visual and structural guidelines.

How to lay a wooden floor on joists.

Another thing to consider is floor joists. The other option assuming you have access to the open joists from below is to install 2x4 blocking between the joists 24 inches on center. It s like a mini bridge that s only supported at each end. When learning how to install hardwood flooring there are a few tips to keep in mind.

Before starting calculate the width the last row will be. Make sure you ve got the right amount of flooring for your space. Measure 16 inches from the center of one of the edge planks and then place the next plank across the plastic sheeting centered on the 16 inch mark. The correct direction for laying hardwood floors.

If you can feel some deflection you have two options. If the uneven floor is due to floor joists that have warped or twisted over time or were incorrectly installed the only way to level the floor is to remove the subflooring and shim the joists. Laying a solid hardwood strip floor is easier and faster if you choose a prefinished product to avoid the extra work of sanding staining and finishing. Lay down 3 4 in 1 9 cm tongue and groove plywood panels over the joists then use wood glue or panel adhesive and galvanized flooring nails to secure each panel around its edges.

Work in small sections until the entire floor is covered. Another important thing to take into account when laying hardwood floors is the possibility that your walls aren t straight. If raising the floor height is not a problem you can install a layer of 1 2 inch plywood over the existing 3 4 inch plywood. Keep joints that line up at least two rows apart.

Lay the planks in place along the four inch side to serve as floor joists. In cases where greater open spans are needed framers often use joist hangers which are u shaped hardware pieces that are nailed in to accept hold and support flooring joists. Floor joists are used to support a floor over an open area like a basement crawl space etc. Install hardwood floors perpendicular to the floor joists parallel to the longest wall leaving a inch expansion gap around the perimeter.

Installing hardwood floors with a few careful preparations elbow grease and a weekend you can have beautiful new floors. Set the first two planks against opposing walls.