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If you like the look of hardwood but want economical flooring, pine floors can be a great choice. Available from sustainable sources, pine is a softer wood that provides a warm, rustic appearance. Depending on the grade you select, the wood can contain knots and other marks that offer rustic design appeal.

Selecting Your Floors

Choosing flooring material largely depends on where you plan to install it and how much traffic there will be. Pine is softer than many hardwoods; it can show dents and scrapes if subjected to high traffic or heavy furniture. You can buy pine flooring in a variety of grades. Grades 1 and 2 typically show fewer knots and irregularities, and are available with tongue and groove edging that minimizes use of nails during installation. Grade 3 pine boards cost less but have more knots and irregularities. Grade 3 can work well for lodge style or country decor. Carefully measure the areas to be covered and add about 5% to provide for measuring and cutting errors and defective wood.

Installation Notes

Here are some helpful hints for installing wood floors:

• Don't forget to use safety equipment including goggles, face masks, and ear plugs, if needed.
• The performance of your new floors depends on the quality of the subflooring. Wooden floors are typically best installed on wooden subflooring, which reduces creaking and provides insulation against noise and cold.
• Start your installation against the longest straight wall in the room. Accurate measurement is essential because the positioning of the first boards affects the positioning of subsequent boards.
• Gluing down boards in addition to using finishing nails can help reduce noise caused by creaking floors.
• Use a wood glue that's flexible; you can test glue by placing some on a piece of wax paper. When it's dry, remove the glue and try bending it. If it bends, it's flexible enough to use for your wooden floors.

Once your pine floors are installed, you can look forward to enjoying them for years to come.

Sources

http://www.motherearthnews.com

About the Author
Karen Lawson is a freelance writer with more than 15 years of experience. She holds BA and MA degrees in English from the University of Nevada, Reno.

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