When installing a new hardwood floor, making sure the subfloor is flat is key. During construction the subfloor will often get rained on, especially here in Seattle, and the edges will swell up. Even after it dries, it's like getting a piece of paper wet, it never quite goes back to being flat. This bedroom was originally built with carpet, so the pad would have hidden these issues. Now I've got drywall mud, uneven subfloor seams, along with staples and texture overspray to deal with.

After that, making sure the boards are laid out evenly (not randomly!), and don't have any defects or damage will make the floor a perfect background for everything else that goes into the room. I'm installing 2-1/4" select grade red oak flooring in a square room with no trim. This is about as simple as it gets, so it's a good opportunity to show the basics of the process.

If you're in the North Seattle area and looking for hardwood floor installation or refinishing, contact me at www.tongueandgroove.us