Hardwood Floor Installation

Hardwood installation starts with subfloor assessment. If you're over plywood or OSB joists, we typically nail down 3/4-inch solid hardwood using a pneumatic nailer. Concrete slabs require either glue-down engineered planks or a plywood subfloor build-up if you want solid wood. Existing vinyl or tile can stay if it's flat and bonded well—we'll go right over it with engineered floating floors, but any high spots over 1/8 inch in 10 feet need grinding first.

Wood species matters for durability and grain. Red oak is the standard—takes stain evenly, widely available, Janka hardness around 1290. White oak runs harder at 1360, better for high-traffic areas. Hickory at 1820 is the go-to for families with dogs. Maple shows every dent at 1450 but gives you that clean gym-floor look. Walnut's soft at 1010 but people love the dark chocolate color. Exotics like Brazilian cherry hit 2350 on the Janka scale but move more with humidity swings.

“the area humidity swings from 30% in winter to 70% in summer—hardwood that isn't acclimated properly gaps or cups after we're done.”

Engineered versus solid is a moisture question. Basements and concrete slabs get engineered—the plywood core doesn't cup like solid wood does when humidity spikes in summer. Upstairs over climate-controlled space, either works. Engineered costs more per square foot but installs faster as a floating floor. Solid gives you more sanding cycles over the floor's life—you can refinish 3/4-inch solid five or six times; engineered with a 3mm wear layer gets you two, maybe three.

We acclimate wood in your space for 7-10 days before install. the area humidity swings from 30% in January to 70% in August, and hardwood moves. Acclimation lets the planks adjust to your home's conditions so they don't gap or cup after we're done. Installation itself runs 2-4 days for an average 1,000-square-foot area, then another day for trim and transitions. Monroe Hardwood Flooring delivers the wood, stacks it with spacers for air circulation, and schedules the install once moisture content stabilizes below 12%.