Wood Flooring Installation

Hardwood Flooring Services NYC

When we carry out an installation, it is usually because your existing floor is not suitable for refinishing or because you are hoping to change the look of your home. But for whatever reason, we install all of floors based on individual needs. We offer many styles of flooring - straight boards, parquet, medallion - which come in different sizes, widths and thicknesses.

However, before you choose your wood flooring, you will need to take into account what kind of sub-floor you have. A sub-floor is a non-decorative layer of planks or plywood laid between the top flooring and the joists. Not only does it act as an insulator, but it also provides a good foundation for your final finish. In fact, what type of sub-floor you have will determine what kind of finish you can choose.

Installations and how to choose them

There are three main types of flooring installations:

• Floating - this is a popular option because it is both stable and forgiving. It is not attached to the sub-floor and, once put down, will not creak. It is a quick and efficient installation method, and cost-effective.
• Nail down (staple down) - this is a modern alternative to traditional techniques, and used primarily with engineered plan wood, strip wood or solid bamboo wood. Installation is quick and easy but it can be noisy when walked on. It is reasonably quick to lay and relatively inexpensive.
• Glue-down - this technique is used primarily with plywood floors. It can be quieter to walk on than a staple down installation, with less creaking when the floors expands and contracts. It is a stable floor, which sounds and feels solid. However, installation can be time-consuming and more costly

Underfloor heating and wood floors

There are both pros and cons when it comes to installing underfloor heating under a wooden floor. Woof, of course, is environmentally friendly and some people believe that heat rising from beneath the floor will help maintain even temperature across the its surface. Others argue that underfloor heating encourages wood to warp. Just as importantly, wood is an effective insulator so underfloor heating will have to work a lot harder to keep a house warm.

This will be expensive to run and, also, is not environmentally friendly. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide if underfloor heating will suit your needs, but All American Wood Flooring recommends that if you do proceed, then you should make sure it is running for 3-4 weeks prior to floor installation. This will allow the concrete floor to dry thoroughly.

Inlays - Designs and Motifs with an Individual Touch

Inlays and borders are used to incorporate designs into hardwood floor surfaces, such as personal designs or geometric patterns. These are created by combining different types of wood e.g. maple, cherry, ash to highlight variations in color and grain. Inlays and borders can also be made by combining hardwood with other materials, such as aluminum, brass and ceramic tiles.

Common designs of inlays include:

• Borders - the outer edge of the floor is surrounded by stone or brass, adding definition to a room. Medallions - inlaid designs providing focus in a room
• Aging - stone combined with distressed wood or pickling, recreating the look of old European floors. Marquetry - in-laying shaped wood forms, metals or ivory into wood to create unique designs.

Quick and Efficient

Once you have decided what kind of flooring you would like, we will determine the best way to install it. We use different installation techniques, depending on type of wood you choose, its width and thickness. There is also the question of the surface and what condition it is in.

Some surfaces need simple cleaning, and moisture has to be dealt with. Others need to be levelled (by chipping at the surface or building a stage above it).

Installing a floor can be a messy business but at All American Wood Flooring we use experienced, highly-skilled contractors, who will carry out the job as quickly and efficiently as possible, causing minimum disruption to your home.

We are happy to come to your home for a no-obligation personal consultation, where we can then talk with you about your individual needs.

These include the costs and benefits of the products we offer, their designs and the techniques we use.

Meeting your Needs

We want to make sure you have all relevant information to hand, and are well advised, so that you can make the best decision possible. And if you then decide to proceed, we will be happy to give you a detailed, written proposal.

This will include a project estimate, a specific timeline, and a breakdown of parts and labor. Of course, all of our work comes with a written guarantee.

We offer a comprehensive service, which includes:

• Moving your furniture
• Preparing the room, including sweeping the floor and removing baseboards
• Setting the underlayer
• Installing or repairing wood flooring (including sub-flooring)
• Undercutting and/or replacing door jams, baseboards and other trimmings
• Installing transitions
• Cleaning the room thoroughly, once the job is completed