Can You Install Your Own Modular Hardwood?

Installing a new hardwood floor in your home is a very significant remodel. It is also a smart home upgrade that will increase the value of your property in the long run. But the cost effectiveness of the project mainly depends on what type of hardwood you install. Hardwood products have a dramatic range in pricing, from super expensive custom floors to cheaper, composite wood floors. The cheaper floors are even more affordable if you a buy a modular product that you can install on your own. This article details the tool and installation requirements of modular hardwood floors. It will help you decide whether you are going to install the floor yourself or leave the job to professional contractors.

Do You Have the Right Tools?

Modular flooring installation requires relatively few power tools. The most important piece of equipment that you need is a compound miter saw. This is what you use to cut the planks to the right length. Shortening the planks with the saw will be your most common form of cutting. However, you will also need a table saw or handheld circular saw to cut the width of the planks. Reducing the plank width is something you will only have to do on a couple of boards. Nonetheless, these cuts are much easier if you have a portable table saw. If you don't have a miter and table saw, you should consider renting them for a couple of days.

Besides these cutting machines, you basically just need a rubber mallet, knee pads, and a floor scraper.

What to Do With Your Existing Floor

You also need to figure out what to do about your existing floor. Modular hardwood can be installed directly over vinyl, linoleum, and concrete floors. However, you will need to uproot your existing floor and expose the subfloor underneath if you have carpet or tile flooring. Removing carpet is straightforward and fast. But if you have to remove a tile floor, the removal process will probably be more time consuming than the process of actually installing the hardwood. This is something you need to take into account before you choose hardwood. If you are set on removing your tile flooring on your own, you will need to use a jackhammer, chisels, hammers, and floor scrapers to get all the tile off of the subfloor.

If you can access and handle the power tools and machines for installing hardwood, you can save a lot of money on your floor installation .

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