DIY enthusiasts need to be prepared when planning to tackle a floating wood floor installation. Besides purchasing a quality brand and reading up on the instructions, DIY fans need to gather the tools needed to install a floating wood floor. Check out this quick checklist before getting started on your project.
Tools for Floating Wood Floor Installation
Most of the tools needed to install floating wood flooring are common, affordable tools. Buy or borrow the following for your project:
- Tape Measure – indispensable on any home improvement project, a tape measure allows you to fit each plank perfectly. Since you’ll need to use standard lengths on every area of your floor, measuring and fitting becomes vital. Remember to always measure twice and cut once.
- Combination or Carpenter Square – this handy tool helps you to make straight end cuts quickly. Simply set one side against the straight edge and use your carpenter pencil to trace a straight line across the board and create a cut line. The fastest way to ensure a straight end cut, this tool works well for many other woodworking project.
- Power Saw or Handsaw – cutting each piece of engineered wood floor or solid hardwood will be necessary, and a good saw makes this job fast and painless. Whether a decent handsaw, table saw, circular saw or miter saw, choose the type that you’re familiar with and be sure the blade is sharp. If necessary, have extra blades on hand as certain species of wood can dull a saw blade mid-project.
- Rubber Mallet – used with a tapping block to secure click lock and glue-down floating wood floors, a rubber mallet works better than a standard hammer. The mallet head gives a little and protects the shape and condition of your tapping block.
- Tapping Block – this is one of those tools you may need to pick up, since not many homeowner toolboxes contain it. A wide plastic bar with a handle on top, this tool is placed against the outside plank and used as a cushion between the hammer and flooring when attaching each strip.
- Pull Bar – for those locations where a tapping bar and hammer will not fit (such as against the wall or under a cabinet), a pull bar will do the trick. With this bar fitted into place over the plank edge, simply use your hammer to tap the raised edge and secure the final plank. Small and only used on certain areas of the floor, this tool plays an important roll in the overall installation.
- Carpenter Pencil – this writing tool is easy to handle and consistent when marking the end cuts and any other cut marks.
Many of these tools have multiple uses, and those that are used especially for floor installation remain affordable. When purchasing is not in the budget, ask around to borrow or rent the tools needed to install floating wood floors. Quality retailers offer expert advice and beautiful wood floors geared for the DIY market. Save money with a DIY plan and get the wood floor you’ve always dreamed of.