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Hardwood Floor Installation Culver City
We specialized in hardwood flooring installation before we opened our showroom. As a hardwood flooring contractor with over 20 years of experience, we’ve been installing different types of wood floors, including solid hardwood, engineered options, and custom pattern designs. Glue-down installation is ideal for engineered wood or when working with concrete subfloors, providing strong adhesion and stability. Nailed installation, often used for solid hardwood, involves securing the planks to a wooden subfloor.
At EKO Flooring, we supply quality wood flooring and we provide a professional installation service so your new floors are installed correctly and last for decades.
Preparing for Installation
We outlined the key steps involved in a complete hardwood flooring installation in Culver City. Each stage is designed to ensure precision, quality, and long-lasting results for your wood floors. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find frequently asked questions about wood flooring installation, addressing unique considerations for projects.
Flooring Acclimation
Before we can start installing any of the hardwood, the wood itself requires time to acclimate to its new surroundings. This is what we refer to acclimatization. Hardwood requires three days for it to adjust to the temperature and humidity levels of your home.
This step is important as wood swells and shrinks depending on its surroundings. Cutting corners on acclimation may result in issues with gaps or warping down the line. The type of wood used and the local climate will also affect how long the installation process takes.
The weather often toggles between dry and humid, this process is crucial.
Sub-floor Preparation
As the wood acclimates, we shift our focus to preparing the installation site to ensure a perfect foundation for your new hardwood flooring. If there’s old flooring in place, it will need to be removed. While hardwood can sometimes be installed directly over existing tile or vinyl surfaces, carpet is never left underneath. This removal process ensures we have a clean slate to work with.
Next, we thoroughly inspect the subfloor, which is the final layer supporting your hardwood. It’s essential that the subfloor is clean, dry, and level for the hardwood to be installed properly. Our team takes care of any necessary repairs, such as filling cracks, smoothing rough areas, or shimming uneven sections. If the subfloor is concrete, we level it out and address any cracks to create a solid, stable surface.
This crucial step not only ensures a seamless and secure fit for the hardwood but also helps your flooring stand the test of time. A well-prepared subfloor prevents unwanted movement, creaking, or other issues that could arise from an uneven foundation, giving you a durable, quiet, and beautiful floor that lasts for years.
Sub-floor Primer
Prior to installation, a primer must be applied to the concrete sub-floor. This essential step ensures a strong, durable bond between the hardwood and the subfloor, creating a secure foundation. The primer also provides an added layer of moisture protection, helping to safeguard your flooring from potential damage caused by moisture intrusion.
In some cases, particularly in condominiums, specific underlayment materials may be required based on HOA (Homeowners Association) regulations. These underlayments are chosen to meet building codes or noise reduction standards commonly enforced in multi-unit buildings. For example, sound-dampening underlayment is often used to minimize noise transmission to neighboring units, ensuring compliance with HOA guidelines while providing an additional layer of comfort and functionality.
Selecting the right underlayment is critical for both the performance and longevity of your hardwood flooring. Our team ensures that all HOA requirements are carefully reviewed and adhered to during the installation process, so your new floor not only meets aesthetic and structural standards but also complies with any community regulations.
Selecting the Floors
When installing hardwood flooring, every detail matters, including how the planks are selected and placed. We carefully choose the nicer-looking planks for areas of the room that are most visible, such as living spaces, entryways, or areas with abundant natural light. Less desirable planks—those with more prominent knots, uneven grains, or slight imperfections—are strategically placed in less noticeable areas, like closets or under furniture, ensuring no material goes to waste.
Installing your New Floor
The method of installation depends on several factors, including the type of hardwood flooring material you choose, the subfloor's condition, and the specific requirements of your space. For example, engineered hardwood is often installed using the glue-down method, which is particularly effective for concrete subfloors commonly found in homes. This method creates a strong, stable bond and minimizes noise, making it an excellent choice for both residential and multi-family properties.
Alternatively, nailed or stapled installations are typically used for solid hardwood flooring when installed over wooden subfloors. These methods involve securely fastening the planks, ensuring durability and resistance to movement.
The benefits of hardwood flooring go beyond installation. The National Wood Flooring Association finds that properties with wood floors sell faster and at higher prices. When the time comes to buy a bigger home or downsize, homes with wood floors consistently outperform those without, often selling up to 10 percent higher. Real estate agents report that identical homes with wood flooring attract more buyers and sell more quickly. Additionally, when properly maintained, wood floors can last hundreds of years, providing exceptional long-term value.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does hardwood floor installation take?
The installation process typically takes 2 to 4 days for an average-sized room. Depending on your choice of flooring and the condition of your subfloor, this time frame can change. Keep in mind that larger projects or custom designs will require more time.
What’s the difference between solid and engineered hardwood?
Solid hardwood is milled from a single piece of timber, is very durable but not moisture-tolerant. Since engineered hardwood is comprised of multiple layers, it’s more stable and less prone to expansion and contraction due to temperature and humidity changes.
Can hardwood floors be installed over concrete?
Yes, engineered hardwood is perfect for installing over concrete. Your new flooring will need the right moisture barrier to keep it safe and in peak condition for years to come.
Is hardwood a good choice for our climate?
The short answer is, yes hardwood is a perfect choice. Engineered hardwood is particularly well adapted to this dry climate, as it is less prone to warping and shrinking due to fluctuations in temperature.