Common Tools for Installing Hardwood Floors
Installing hardwood floors requires some common household tools, such as a hammer, a circular saw and a tape measure, but a few more specialized tools, such as spacers and a pneumatic flooring nailer, will also be needed. In addition, there are tools you can use to ensure a tighter, more uniform floor, such as a dead blow hammer and tapping block. Each of these tools is helpful for quick and easy installation, and they all work together to create the perfect hardwood floor.
Your hammer will come in handy for securing the hardwood planks, as a tight fit is essential to an even floor. Your tape measure will also help ensure proper locking, as used to measure the size of your planks as well as the distance from the planks to your walls. This is also where your circular saw will come into play; you'll likely need to cut the first and last planks to fit along the edges of your walls. Always be sure to wear safety goggles when operating a circular saw.
Spacers are used to measure what's called an "expansion gap." Increases and decreases in moisture can cause hardwood flooring to expand and contract, so it's important to leave a small space around the perimeter of the room for the flooring to "breathe." A pneumatic flooring nailer will help speed the installation process along and can either be purchased or rented. You'll also need an air compressor powerful enough for your specific nailer.
Finally, a dead blow hammer and tapping block may be used to better secure your new hardwood flooring. Dead blow hammers are specifically designed to reduce the impact of their blow to sensitive surfaces, so they're perfect for ensuring a tight fit without damaging your floor. With this list of tools in tow, you're ready to install your hardwood floors.
