If you have had hardwood floors installed in your house...

omurray

Just curious how much of a pain/mess/disaster the process is.  We're planning to install hardwood throughout 95% of our 1st floor hopefully sometime this year or early next year.  I'm excited, but a little nervous about the actual process.  Any experiences?  Also, how long did it take and how large of a space did you do?

AnnapolisLari

My mom did. She had about 1000 sf, and it was a nightmare. They are installed over concrete slab, though, and they screwed up the amount that they ordered, and she moved in halfway through the processs. Still gives me the heebie jeebies when I think about it.

And if you can avoid getting a darker color, I would. They look great in the Pottery Barn catalogues, but the actual day to day maintenance is awful. Every speck of dust and every crumb stand out like nobody's business.

mamarazzi

We did hardwoods in our kitchen/dining at our last house.  H and his brother installed them.  The biggest pain/mess was the removal of the tile prior to laying the floor.  We had nasty dust for months.  They cut the wood flooring in the garage and it was pre-finished, so the dust from that was minimal.  It wasn't awful since it was just in one area of the house, but it was still a bit of a bear to deal with.

When I was a nanny, the family had hardwoods installed on their whole main floor.  It was a really rough couple of weeks while they demo-ed/installed/sanded/stained/varnished the floors.  They ended up staying in a hotel for a few nights because of the fumes/dust.  It was a hassle, but the end result was gorgeous.

Mrs.Saxy

we moved in to a house with hardwood laminate.  Recently our dishwasher backed up and flooded over night.  DH took out the ruined laminate and installed the new stuff.  Just that little bitty space was a project.  There was dust all over the floor for about two weeks.

However, I think it is worth it from a cleanliness, allergen standpoint. 

bugmommy

I installed them on our 2nd floor main areas and the 2 staircases that led to the second floor.  We also refinished the entire 1st floor.  Are you trying to live in your house while they are doing this?  I really, really wouldn't recommend it.  We had ours done before we moved into the house, but I'm guessing this isn't an option for you.  Our guy used really good equipment and was very professional and I would NEVER have been able to have had my children around.  There was still a lot of dust even though they draped plastic and the stain smell is quite strong for a while.  Its also more expensive if you want them to break it up into different stages so you can stay in the house (i.e. if they have to come out with a sander 2 times, stain on different days in different areas). 

It was fairly fast (maybe 5 days?).  The areas that we laid new hardwoods in previously had carpet, so that made the demo a lot easier, but I think the stairs took the longest time.  If you are laying hardwoods where you have carpet I think you could probably live through the installation, but I would try to be elsewhere during the sanding, staining and sealing.

omurray

Yes, unfortunately we already live in the house.  I think the plan will be for DS and I to take a small trip and be gone while the installation is happening.  DH will stay to help and oversee. 

JOEBunny

We did.  We got prefinished floors, They are great.  It only took them 2 days to install.  If you don't get prefinished, then it is a much longer/dirtier process, since they have to sand and seal them several times.

omurray

JOEBunny:

We did.  We got prefinished floors, They are great.  It only took them 2 days to install.  If you don't get prefinished, then it is a much longer/dirtier process, since they have to sand and seal them several times.

Aha!  That sounds good!  I'm sure that is more expensive, but IMO totally worth it to cut down on the chaos and mess!  I'll just have to convince my DH - he is generally a purist when it comes to home improvement projects.  He is already sacrificing by agreeing to have them installed instead of doing it himself. 

hopefulmom

My DH started a project in our house (only the kitchen and 1/2 bath are done so far.  He still needs to do the main area (dining, living, foyer and hall).  I'd like the main bathroom done too...but he doesn't know this.  lol  He got prefinshed but even those two rooms took him FOREVER!!!  I would love to have the rest professionally done...but he wants to save money.  The problem - he doesn't have the time!

*Amy*

We had them installed in our entire upstairs (all bedrooms and hallway).  We went planned ahead and went away with the kids for a long weekend.  When we returned, they were done.  The only thing we had to do after that was move the furniture back in.

katelynsmom

FIL, MIL, and DH installed hardwood (bamboo) floors last spring. We did approx 900 sqft.  We installed it over concrete floors and the glue was the messiest part. We cut the wood out in the garage, so we just had to sweep that out. But I still find glue on our walls from where DH leaned against the wall and didn't realize he had glue all over him. It is VERY sticky and messy.

It took about 20 hours total to complete. That's cutting, putting down the floor, wiping up the glue (when the boards are squeezed together), putting the quarter round back on the trim and painting the trim. 

You will love it. Yes, the floors get messy. I have 2 dogs and have to sweep daily and it could use it more. But really, I'd rather see it and have to sweep, than have carpet, not see it, and have all that dirty and dog hair in the carpet..yuck.