How to Put a Hardwood Floor on an Existing Hardwood Floor

New wood flooring can improve an otherwise dated room.

Installing new laminate wood flooring over an existing wood floor is not only possible -- it is relatively common. Many wood floors are not constructed of high-grade wood, because the builder wants to install carpet or tile. Installing a new floor over the existing wood should not present any unusual problem.

Things You'll Need

• Pry bar
• 10-foot straight edge
• Belt sander
• Trowel
• Patching compound
• Flat saw
• Vacuum
• Builder's felt
• Staple gun
• Staples
• Razor blade
• Brad nailer
• Rubber mallet

Instructions

1. Open the boxes for the laminate flooring and allow the flooring to acclimate to the temperatures and humidity in the home for three to four days before starting your project. Allow at least a week to acclimate if your home has brand new drywall or plaster.

2. Remove the baseboard trim with a pry bar. If you plan to reuse the trim, take precautions not to damage it. Otherwise, factor in the cost of new trim when calculating the cost of installing the floor on your own.

3. Remove all floor vents and any other obstructions that will prevent you from installing the new wood laminate flooring.

4. Walk the floor and listen for creaking floorboards. Hammer a ring-shank nail into the floorboard to secure the board to the joist.

5. Place a 10-foot straight edge across the floor in several locations. Level out any humps in the floor with a belt sander. Fill any depressions in the floor with a trowel and patching compound. Allow adequate drying time before moving on.

6. Place a piece of the new flooring next to the wood frames of the door, Trim the wood frames with a flat saw to allow the new wood to slip under the door frame. If necessary, trim the bottom of the door to allow the door to swing over the new wood.

7. Vacuum the entire floor to remove any dirt and debris from the floor.

8. Secure 15-pound builder's felt to the floor with a staple gun. Position the felt so the seams run parallel with the longest wall in the room. Trim the felt within 1/2 inch of the walls with a razor blade. Inspect the staples. Use a hammer to pound any staples sticking up above the floor surface.

9. Place 1/2-inch spacers along the longest wall in the room. This will provide the necessary gap for expansion.

10. Place the first board in the corner of the room. Butt the grooved side of the board up against the spacers. Lay each board end-to-end to create the first row. If necessary, cut the last board to length with a miter saw.

11. Place brad nails into the tongues of each board at a 45-degree angle.

12. Secure the second row of boards to the tongues on the first row of boards with a rubber mallet. Stagger the boards so the ends of the boards in the second row do not match up with the ends in the first row. Tack each board down by shooting brad nails through the tongues. Duplicate this process for each row until the room is complete.

References

• This Old House: How to Lay Engineered Wood Floors; Mark Ferier; 2009