Hardwood floors are, of course, the best thing for your floors in terms of beauty, durability and value. Besides being beautiful and hard-wearing, hardwood floors are environmentally friendly as well; wood is a natural resource, it is both renewable and recyclabl­e.

And best of all, once you install hardwood floors they almost never need to be replaced and can add thousands of dollars to the value of a home.

So what’s not to like about the idea to install hardwood floors? For most people, the intimidation comes from the concept that you cannot install hardwood floors unless you are a professional installer. But if you take the time to do the correct preparation, you can install them yourself. In addition, there have been giant advancements in the construction of hardwood floors. These technological advances have made many types of hardwood floors easier to install. In fact, your local hardwood floor supplier can work with you to find out just how much work you really want to do on your own. For instance, you can order Bruce Hardwood Natural Choice — so there is no need to finish or seal the floor before or after installation. In fact, factory-finished floors can be installed straight out of the box. Because of these types of advancements, it is easier than ever to install a hardwood floor yourself.

Thinking about hiring a professional to install hardwood floors? Just remember that it could cost upward of several thousand dollars. True, you are paying for that installer’s craftsmanship and the quality of their specialized labor.  On the other hand, if you are installing your own floors, you only have to pay the cost of materials and tools or tool rental such as this Air Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer and Stapler Gun .

Here are a few tips from some professionals when you install hardwood floors:

·     When ordering hardwood flooring, allow 10-15 percent extra for irregular boards and any cutting mistake.

·     Before installing wood flooring, stack it indoors for a few days to allow the wood time to adjust to your home's humidity level.

·      If the room is seriously out of square, place the tongue of the first row parallel to the centerline and rip the groove side at an angle parallel to the wall.

·     During installation lay out a number of rows of boards, staggering them so no end joint is closer than 6 inches to an end joint in the next row. As you install the strips, cut pieces (at least 8 inches long) to fit at the end of each row and allow a 1/2-inch gap at the wall.

·     When blind-nailing with a hammer and finishing nails, don't try to drive the nails flush because then the indentations will show. Instead, leave each nail head sticking up about 1/8 inch, then place a nail set sideways over it along the upper edge of the tongue and drive the nail home by tapping the nail set with your hammer. Finally, use the tip of the nail set to recess the nail's head flush with the wood.

Finally, here is a great video that will walk you through the step-by-step procedures to install hardwood floors when using pre-finished planks:

DIY flooring video