Tips for choosing hardwood floors

The annoying factor. Make no mistake: Installing laminate flooring is invasive and disruptive. Even before installation begins, wood planks may have to “adapt” to your environment. That means stacks of boxes will stay in your home for up to two weeks, so the wood can adjust to temperature and humidity. Existing decks must be detached. Furniture must be moved. Unfinished wood has to be cut to fit and sanded, says Shipwash, which creates a large amount of dust, like a sparking bomb, Shipwash says. “You then have to stain the wood, wait for it to dry, then sand and glue the wood three times, letting the finish dry between coats,” he adds. “You can’t walk upstairs and some people are sensitive to the fumes of the sealant, so you may have to move out of the house for a week or more.” Although it also has to adapt, pre-treated wood cuts installation time in half or more. Once it’s up and running, it’s ready to go.