How To Replace An Old Floor With Knotty Pine

If you are at the point of replacing your old flooring with knotty pine, there are a few crucial things to consider. The first two are who will do the work and where will you buy the pine flooring. You must also move the furniture and other items to another room, allow adequate time for installation and the finish to dry, and dispose of the old flooring material.

Who Will Install Your Knotty Pine Floors

You typically get the best results when you hire a flooring specialist rather than a general carpenter. An option is laying the flooring yourself with help from family and friends if all of you have woodworking and flooring knowledge and skills. Consider these pros and cons:

The choice between professional and DIY flooring installation depends on your individual circumstances. They include your budget, skill level, time availability, and tolerance for risk. If you prioritize a high-quality result, efficiency, and peace of mind, hiring a professional installer is likely the better choice.

Where Will You Buy The Flooring

You have the options of purchasing knotty pine flooring online or at lumber yards, home improvement stores, flooring retailers or wholesalers, and used limber dealers. You may be able to save money by purchasing used flooring but there are too many negatives, such as pulling nails, refinishing the wood, and running out of flooring.

The best high-quality and hand-inspected knotty pine flooring is found at The Log Home Shoppe. Each piece is kiln-dried for the correct moisture content, staining, and finishing. It is sold by the square foot rather than by the linear foot that saves money. It carries a warranty that meets or surpasses industry standards.

Moving The Furniture Out And Removing The Old Flooring

If you hire professional flooring installers, decide who will move the furniture, dispose of the old flooring material, and who will move the furniture back into the rooms. Installers who do these things make the job much easier by doing all this work:

• Remove the baseboards or leave them alone.
• If baseboards are left in place, add trim where new flooring meets baseboards.
• Carefully remove the old flooring with the right tools, and load it onto a truck or trailer.
• Level and repair the subfloor if necessary to ensure it is flat and safe.
• Clean the subfloors thoroughly before laying the new pine flooring.
• Follow these same steps if you do the work yourself.

This comprehensive guide to removing old flooring is worth reading.

“If you are at the point of replacing your old flooring with knotty pine, there are a few crucial things to consider.”

An Unfinished Or Pre-Finished Pine Floor

The options of purchasing unfinished, pre-finished with stain, and pre-finished with stain and a clear top coat are available from our inventory. If you hire an installer, discuss early on ordering the pine flooring yourself or using the installer’s flooring. Consider these options:

• Size of Flooring: Use 1”x4”, 1”x5”, or 1”x6” unfinished or 1”x6” pre-finished.
• Condition: Choose unfinished or pre-finished as mentioned above
• Quantity: Measure your floors’ square footage and order the flooring by the square foot instead of by the linear foot to obtain more for your money
• Pre-Finished Pros: Faster, less work, no need to hire a painter, or wait on the weather

Laying The Knotty Pine Floor

Most flooring experts recommend laying out the knotty pine flooring to run the same direction as the longest wall in a room. Some people choose to lay the flooring at a 90-degree angle to the longest wall. Once the flooring arrives, place it in the rooms and store it there for 3 or 4 days to acclimate to the temperature and humidity. Flooring should be installed like this:

• Place a board against the wall leaving a 3/16” gap for expansion and contraction. Snap a chalk line to make a straight starting point. Apply construction adhesive between the wall and chalk line for the first row only. Line up the tongue with the line and face nail it along the groove side to anchor the starting board.
• Stagger the end joints of every row by at least 6 inches from the last row’s joints. Use a flooring nailer and nail each board at a 45-degree angle after tapping them into place with a rubber mallet. Place nails every 8, 10, or 12 inches apart.
• Continue across the room making sure the entire flooring is straight with a long level or straightedge.
• Install the baseboards and/or the baseboards and top shoe molding if needed.
• Clean and stain the flooring or clean and apply a clear top coat.
• Watch this video for expert advice.

Disposing Of Old Flooring Material

Once the new flooring is laid down, the installers typically dispose of the old flooring. A few other options you may want to consider include:

• Keep and recycle it for other projects
• Give it to someone who can use it
• Sell it if it is still useful
• Dispose of it at a landfill

In summary, when removing and correctly replacing your old floor with beautiful new knotty pine flooring, you will have a room to be proud of for decades.

References and Resources:

• Removing Old Flooring
• Installing Pine Flooring