Okay, so I decided to tackle this wooden flooring project. I’ve always liked the look of birch, and I found some really nice “rubber dancing” planks. I guess that’s what they call it when it’s got that extra give? Anyway, first thing was prepping the floor.

I cleared out the entire room. That was a workout in itself! Moved all the furniture, rolled up the old rug, and gave everything a good sweep. I found a couple of loose floorboards, so I nailed those suckers down. Gotta make sure the base is solid, right?

The Underlayment

Next up, the underlayment. I chose this felt stuff. It’s supposed to help with sound and give a little extra cushion. Unrolled it, cut it to size with a utility knife, and taped the seams together. It’s important for it to be pretty smooth.

Laying the Planks

• Started in one corner, like the instructions said. The first few rows were the trickiest.
• I had to use these little spacers to keep a gap along the walls, for expansion and contraction. It seems a bit odd.
• These planks had this “click-lock” system. Snapped them together, one by one. Sometimes it was easy, sometimes I had to bang them in with a rubber mallet and a tapping block. Don’t want to damage the edges!

As I got into a rhythm, it went faster. The main thing was keeping everything straight. I used a long level and a chalk line to make sure my rows weren’t getting wonky.

Dealing with Obstacles

The doorways were a pain. I had to measure and cut the planks really carefully to fit around the door frames. Used a jigsaw for those tricky cuts. It took some patience, and I definitely messed up a couple of pieces. Good thing I bought extra!

The Finishing Touches

Once all the planks were down, I installed the baseboards. That really finished the look. Filled the nail holes with wood putty, gave it a light sanding, and then a coat of paint. Boom! Done.

It took me a couple of days, working on and off, but it was totally worth it. My floor looks awesome, and it feels great underfoot. Plus, I saved a bunch of money doing it myself! I’m already thinking about what room to tackle next.