1. Scrub the Subfloor Before you begin to lay any part of the floor, be 100% positive that the subfloor is secure, super clean, perfectly level and squeak free. We can’t stress enough how important this is because once your floor is laid there is nothing you can do about dips, bumps and squeaks—other than tearing up the floor and starting again. Very specifically, clean the blobs of drywall off the subfloor, flatten it if needed, clean all contaminants and ensure the subfloor is appropriate (no particle board) 2. Measure your Moisture It is critical that the moisture difference between the floor and the subfloor not exceed 4%, so use a moisture meter on both before installation. It helps to bring the flooring in a couple days before it will be installed to let it acclimatize. Ideally wood flooring should be between 6-9% moisture (although this may vary if you’re close to water or depending on your location and time of year). 3. The One-Box Rule To save yourself money and costly mistakes, only open one box of flooring at a time. Otherwise you may open more boxes than you actually need. Once one box is open begin with the longest and straightest boards to be laid in the starter row. 4. The 6” Rule When laying floor boards always ensure that the end joints are 6” or more from the previous row’s end joints (otherwise your floor could look wonky and amateurish). 5. Don’t Be Lazy Layer Floors that don’t have a solid layout will look amateurish and won’t stand the test of time. This means planning ahead for rooms that aren’t perfectly square (and perfectly square rooms are quite rare), knowing where layout matters the most (in high-traffic areas and long hallways), creating starting lines on the longest run of flooring in your home and planning ahead to minimize awkward partial boards (like extremely narrow pieces at edges and around vents). 6. Don’t be a Bad Racker Badly racked floors have eye sores that jump out at your and say “ahh help me!”. To avoid this space your end joints far enough apart, avoid h-joints and notice recurring ‘imperfections’ (which can make the best floor boards) as these shouldn’t line up in a laid floor. Essentially, you need to consider your full layout before you begin laying. Measure rooms so that you don’t end up with joints too close together or narrow boards because it ‘didn’t quite fit’. Also, consciously avoid funky patterns with lined-up wood flaws. And finally, be aware of varying lengths of floor board and use them accordingly. 7. Nail it Enough One of the most common errors we see in DIY floors is people not using enough nails. The basic rules for fasteners are this: every board needs two fasteners which should be placed 1-3” from the end of each board and standard ‘strip’ flooring should have a fastener spaced roughly every 8-10” (and for plank that is 4”-wide or more every 6-8”). There’s probably a lot more to wood floor installation tips than you thought—which is why we recommend that you leave it to the pros. If you’re unsure if you can create a beautiful, durable floor—then call us for a quote.]]>
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should Toronto homeowners know about wood floor installation tips?
When considering wood floor installation tips, evaluate durability, maintenance requirements, and cost per square foot for your specific needs. Tony’s Flooring Centre at 268 Royal York Rd offers expert advice and free estimates to help you make the right choice for your Toronto home.
How long does flooring installation take?
Timeline varies by type: hardwood 2-5 days, LVP 1-3 days, carpet 1-2 days, tile 3-7 days for an average Toronto home. Subfloor repairs and custom cuts can extend timelines. We provide accurate estimates during our free consultation.
Does Tony's Flooring offer free installation estimates?
Yes, we offer free in-home estimates for all flooring installation projects in the Greater Toronto Area. Our team measures your space, discusses options, and provides a detailed quote with no obligation.
Visit Our Etobicoke Flooring Showroom
See and feel the difference quality flooring makes. Tony’s Flooring Centre features a 4,100 sq ft showroom at 268 Royal York Rd, Etobicoke. Call (416) 255-9631 or request a free quote online. Open Tuesday through Saturday.