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Rug burned. Brigitte’s choice for a window treatment in the dining room was determined by the type of floor she chose for the room. To find out what was under the rug, Brigitte tore away a small piece from around the air vent on the floor. To tear out the rest of the carpet, Brigitte armed herself with a utility knife, a pry bar, protective eye goggles, and mask. Then it was just slice, pry, rip, and pull until it was all gone! Because there were several layers of other types of flooring under the top layer, Brigitte had to spend more time (with Anthony’s help) prying and ripping to get to the bottom.
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DON’T be in a rush for your hardwood flooring. The material will need about 48 hours to acclimatise to your home before you install it.
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DO find something else to do for 48 hours while the wood makes itself at home.
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Laying the Floor
Brigitte chose to go with a hardwood floor with a tongue and groove edge:
- Roll out the wax paper, which will act like a vapour barrier between the sub-floor and the hardwood.
- Put a spacer against the wall and lay out the first piece of wood against it. This space will allow the wood enough room to expand on those hot humid days of summer.
- Hammer the first piece into place, placing the nail into the tongue of the wood. You will have to hammer by hand for the first few rows closest to the wall until you have enough room to use the power nailer. Make sure you stagger the joints. Each new piece you add will slide into the groove of the piece you hammered down.
- Use a power nailer for the rest of the floor (which can be rented at most building centers). Make sure the wood is tightly in place by tapping it in with a rubber mallet. Place the power nailer flat on the hardwood, with the nail part against the tongue of the wood. Wack the power hammer with the rubber mallet and the compressed air in the hammer will drive the nail in the wood. You don’t have to hit it too hard! Wear protective goggles and headphones….er, ear protection!
- Repeat this process of hammering and sliding until the floor is finished.
- Break out the slippers and do a little “soft shoe” on your new floor!
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