How to Install Knotty Pine Flooring and Baseboards

If you are planning to build a new home or remodel your existing one, what flooring material will you use? Hardwood, tile, or stone are some options but their higher cost makes them prohibited for many homeowners. Carpeting, though once favored, is on its way out because it’s hard to keep clean over the years and holds allergens. A viable alternative isknotty pine for any room in any style house.

For those of you who like to bring nature into your home, you can’t make a better choice than knotty pine. The following ideas will help serve as a general guide for using pine flooring:

  •   Why knotty pine flooring is a great choice
  •   Tips for installing pine flooring
  •   Why use knotty pine baseboards
  •   Deciding how much material to order
  •   The easy way to cost-effective buying

TIP: Your best results are obtained by using tongue and groove flooring with the end-matched design.

Why Knotty Pine Flooring Is a Great Choice

Pine Tongue and Groove FlooringKnotty pine is a versatile and economical material for flooring and baseboards. It is favored in many countries for its beauty and affordable cost for conventional and log homes. Thousands of homeowners report they prefer this amazing material for these reasons:

  • Its general appearance, colors, and dark knots provide warmth to rooms
  • Pine is a sustainable material because trees can be perpetually grown on tree farms
  • The cost is far below traditional hardwoods such as oak, maple, or beech
  • Pine is easy to work for sawing, sanding, drilling, and finishing

Tips for Installing Pine Flooring

Pine flooring is typically laid by professionals but homeowners skilled in woodworking can also take on the project. You will need a miter saw, nail gun, compressor, and nails, and you can buy or rent the equipment. By following these ideas, you can do a nice job for one or all your rooms.

 Flooring for New Homes – Once the sub-flooring is installed, you are ready to go:

  • Lay out the flooring inside your home for a few days to let it acclimate to the humidity.
  • Choose the type of underlayment and whether you want a ‘floating floor.’
  • Select the starting point and the direction you want the wood to run.
  • Install the first row by tapping them in place with a rubber-head mallet and then putting several nails in each groove of the planks.
  • Follow up the next row by staggering the joints and nailing in place.
  • Stain or finish with a clear coat by following the manufacturer’s directions.

“For those of you who like to bring nature into your home, you can’t make a better choice than knotty pine.”

For Replacing Floors in Existing Homes – There are some differences in this approach:

  • Allow the pine flooring to acclimate for a few days before removing the old flooring.
  • Remove all furniture, floor lamps, bookcases, and other objects from the room.
  • Take up the tile, linoleum, carpet, laminate, or other materials and put them in a recycling bin or dumpster.
  • Remove all glue residue, nails, or staples, and repair any damaged subfloor.
  • Thoroughly vacuum and clean the sub-floor before installing any underlayment and the wood flooring
  • Install the pieces as above.
  • Stain or finish with a clear coat by following the manufacturer’s directions.

Most homeowners choose either 4”, 5”, or 6” lengths in equal or random lengths. Learn more complete details about installing pine flooring by referring to some professional advice.

Why Use Knotty Pine Baseboards

Knotty pine baseboards are best because they match the décor of the flooring, are an economical choice and are easy to work. You can purchase the baseboards and any trim needed from the same online supplier.

Deciding How Many Pine Flooring and Baseboards to Order

End-matching Pine FlooringMultiply the length by the width of each room to get its total square footage. Be sure to include closets and offset spaces that also need flooring. Add all the rooms for a total and add about 5% extra in case you make some measurement or cutting mistakes. Your supplier will help you convert the square footage into the amount of flooring needed.

Measure the total running feet of pine baseboards needed and also order 5% additional. Your baseboards can easily be cut to size and put in place with a nail gun. Four options are typically offered:

  • Colonial 1”x 4” x 95”
  • Triple Bead 1” x 5” x 95”
  • Round Over 1” x 5” x 95”
  • Pre-finished Round Over 1” x 5” x 95”

It’s Easy and Economical to Order Pine Materials Online

Let the Log Home Shoppe help you with all your flooring and baseboards needs. All our products are of the highest quality and our prices are more than fair.

References and Resources:

How to Install Pine Floors

Cut and Install Baseboards