How To Prepare And Replace Your Carpeted Floors With Hardwood

Posted on: 23 January 2020

Here are a few things you should do to prepare the carpeted areas in your home if you will be replacing them with hardwood floors. Hardwood floors are beautiful and can last a lifetime in a home when properly cared for. They are a popular choice among many homeowners and you can find a hardwood flooring contractor to handle the installation. To save yourself some money, you can tear out the carpet and get the floors prepped for the new flooring. Here are some things you need to do to get things ready for installation day:

Tear out the Carpet

Tearing out carpet isn't too complicated most of the time. You can take off a portion of the baseboard to reach a corner starting point in each room. Carpet is usually nailed down and will come right up once you get it going. Stay clear of nails and be sure to wear thick work boots to avoid injury. There can be a lot of nails in every room, so you can buy a large magnet sweeper at your local hardware store that allows you to collect them quickly. 

Clean Glue Residue

Sometimes carpet is glued down, if this is the case, it is a messier job. You will need to rip the carpet up and purchase an adhesive remover to clean up the floors. Your hardwood needs to lay as flat as possible and a big mound of glue isn't a great base. Let the adhesive remover sit according to directions and then you can wear proper face protection and scrape the glue up.

Fix Squeaking Subfloors

If you have a house that notoriously squeaks in spots now is the time to remedy that situation. You can use short screws to better secure the subfloors to the joists. You will love your new hardwood floors when there is no more squeaking.

Hire a Professional 

Hardwood floors can be a big investment for your home. You want to make sure the job is done right, so you should have a hardwood flooring contractor do the installation. You have to have cuts precise to piece and lay together the hardwood floors. A professional can get the job done much quicker and ensure that it is laid down correctly. Ask them for any tips or tricks they recommend for caring for your new floors. If they work with hardwood frequently they will have some great ideas for you.

Get your carpet out so your home is ready for hardwood floor installation. Don't skimp on hiring a professional for install, get it done right and this upgrade can be a real investment for your home!

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