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Pre-finished hardwood floors & building - when to install ???

14 years ago

My parents are breaking ground next month and my husband is installing their pre-finished hickory hardwood flooring (2600 sq feet of it). We are discussing when it should be installed during the building process. We are thinking it should go in after drywall but before trim, doors, baseboards & shoe molding. But we are nervous about it getting damaged from the finished carpenter, painter, tile guys etc.. I would love to know in what order you had your pre-finished hardwood installed. Also what do you lay down to protect it during construction?

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Comment (1)

rethree
14 years ago
It necessarily MUST go in before baseboards, and after the walls are framed and rocked/plastered. Builders typically lay down paper, drop cloths and/or opened cardboard boxes when walking over finished flooring. This will happen and is unavoidable. Your flooring is not likely so delicate that normal construction traffic will damage it. It will get a nick here and there, and may get a tiny splotch of paint or stain on it. Besides, three weeks after the occupants move in, it will have furniture scrapes, coffee spilled, etc. Not too much to be concerned about with professional builders.
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