With the recent developments in the field of hardwood floor installation, you need not require professional help from carpenters for installing hardwood floors. The task of installing hardwood floors can be easily performed by anyone now. This has been possible with the availability of pre-finished flooring, where the wood is factory-finished and saves the labor of sanding and finishing it manually.

Its amazing what a change to your home wood floors can bring. The great thing is, it increases the value of your home at the same time.

Other than the ever-popular red oak, there are many varieties of hardwood are available in several colors and textures to add a touch of class to your home. Selection of the type of material you want to use in installing hardwood floors can become easier if you do a search on the Internet or make a preliminary visit to a hardware shop.

Reliable merchants in your neighborhood and certain online vendors can be great places to buy pre-finished flooring. The flooring wood should be stacked in the intended room for a couple of days, so that the wood has time to acclimatize to your home's humidity level. Since all wood expands in hot weather, allow yourself a half-an-inch gap between the floor and the walls; cover this gap with baseboard molding strips later.

For when you install the floor, you should follow the instructions given. In order to get a custom finish on your floor you should do things step by step. The wood already comes micro-beveled so you don't have to worry about its expansion in the summer.

If your flooring is very old and looks it, you can also refinish it to make it look like new. Before the job starts, remove furniture, rugs, drapes and all articles on the floor. Refinished flooring takes about three days to be ready for use again, during which time keep the doors and windows of the room closed to prevent airborne dust entering inside. After the job is finished, it is advisable to allow one more day before placing the furniture and other items back on the floor.

Laminate floors are better still, as they require very little maintenance and are easier to install. This kind of flooring is highly resistant to scratches, stains, and other damage, making it particularly suited for withstanding heavy traffic, say if you have pets or kids. Laminate floors can be laid easily thanks to the tongue and groove interlocking system that the flooring comes with.