DIY - Hardwood Flooring Tools


Hardwood Installer.Com has made it easier for the weekend warriors out there determined to tackle their hardwood flooring project. Below are a list of power and hand tools, along with page links for more information and uses on each one. We know the guys want to see the cool tools first, but let's not forget the other ones (further down the page) that could spell the success or failure in any job.

As mentioned numerous times on our site, floor preparation, acclimation, and being aware of moisture conditions before, during and after the work has been completed are three critical elements that should be followed at all times.

Power Tools

Item General Purpose
10" Miter Saw Basic cut off saw for narrow strip or plank. Trim cutting saw
Compound Miter Saw Used for wider plank or diagonal installations.
Jig Saw Cuts irregular shapes
Circular Saw Used chiefly for plywood installations or hardwood repairs
Table Saw For ripping down board lengths
Jamb Saw Specialty. Cuts under door casings
Toe Kick Saw Specialty. Cuts underlayment away from walls or under cabinets
Routers Specialty item for inlays, insets. Also used for re-grooving planks
Fein MultiMeister Ideal for small cutting and sanding. It's one of those "cool tools"
Festool Specialty. High quality precision specialized power tools.

Preparation

Item General Purpose
Hardwood Adhesives Not all are created equal
Common Sense Yessir, it's a valuable and overlooked tool
Flooring Edgers Flattens high spots on wood subfloors
Concrete Demo Hammer Removes ceramic tile, thin set, and severe high spots on concrete
Concrete Grinders Removes paint overspray concrete, mild high spots on concrete
Hygrometers Tests relative humidity
Knee Pads Not all are created equal
Floor Buffers Removes larger amounts of drywall mud and paint on concrete
Floor Leveling Compounds Used to fill low spots on concrete
Floor Leveling Tools Trowels, paddle mixers
Flooring Scrapers Manual types, used mostly for concrete subfloors before the installation
Flooring Sealers Keeps moisture at bay. Common sealers may not work.
Moisture Meters Tests moisture. Concrete & wood
Underlayment Floating or nailed floors.

Installation Tools

Item General Purpose
Air Compressors For pneumatic fastening. Staples or nails
Flooring Nailers & Staplers
 For fastening to wood subfloors
Nailers On Wheels New adapters making installations quicker and accurate.
Nail Guns Used for trim and where flooring nailer/staplers cannot reach
Power Jack Used to install crooked boards near walls. Naildown floors
Pull Bars Invaluable with floating floors
Strap Clamps Used for pulling boards tight with floating floors
Trowels For glue down installations

Repair Items Miscellaneous

Item General Purpose
Adhesive Removers
 Removing adhesive from hardwood floor surfaces
Dust Control Tips to avoid a sneezing house.
Floor Cleaners Do's and Don'ts. Types
Floor Repair Kits For damaged surfaces. Scratches, dents, and dings
Furniture Moving Tips
Floor Protection Protecting hardwood floors

Refinishing Tools

Item General Purpose
Drum Vs Belt Sanders Large machines. Differences
Square Buff Sander Easiest DIY machine
Floor Buffer Traditional rounded buffer
Rollers & Brushes  
Hardwood Floor Scrapers Hand held scraping for out of the way areas