Hello,

I'm new here. Before telling you that I am about to install a hardwood floor for the first time, I should tell you that I have learned and installed/mounted stuff just from reading books before. So as long as I can find properly written instructions/guidelines, I can do anything. The last thing I did for the first time from a book was to hang two (2) single 9' doors as a pair of double doors and they came out splendidly. Ok on to my questions...

I am looking at installing some engineered hardwood in a loft here in L.A. and I just cannot find much information on procedures for laying the floor out.

I have been told that if the floor is sealed that I do not need to install a moisture/vapor barrier. I am going to try that 2" square plastic taped down on all 4 sides method to see there is any moisture floating around.

Can any of you suggest any good books or sites on the subject? All I have right now is just a diagonal layout rather than straight but would be open to doing something a little more daring if I had some ideas that I could follow that are not that overly complex.

Thanks,
Jorge

You could browse around Amazon for books on design. Or go to HD. They have looks of books there as well. This website has many mini articles on installation plus the forum. And the advantage of this site is that it is geared to the DIYer and the pro. Some sites are for pros only. Tell us about your loft in more detail. Perhaps we could make some recommendations. But my first, gut instinct would be to recommend a floating wood floor.

Hi Gary,

Thanks for the offer to help.

I am tending toward going with an installer, not because I can't do it but because about 6 months ago or so I turned over a new leaf of NOT doing everything myself. I used to do things myself because I love tools but the thing is that I want to get this done fast and although I would love to use the money I would have paid an installer to get a table saw and a compound miter saw, I should spend my time making money instead.

I would still however, love ideas on how to come up with a design. The space is a loft in downtown Los Angeles in a bldg called the Eastern Columbia bldg. It's on B'wy and 9th. Space is roughly 1580 sf with two bathrooms. I am thinking about putting porcelain tile in the kitchen area and putting engineered, hand scraped/distressed, 5" planks down. I was thinking about putting them diagonally but was wondering if I can do something a little fancier without going too crazy. I looked at a site yesterday that had a photo of a floor that had the borders in a lighter wood parallel to the walls. I already bought my wood and was wondering if just the difference in grain is enough to give the floor some kind of character?

I have not bought the tiles for the kitchen yet and was also thinking that it would look very nice to border the diagonal floor with tile but then I was thinking that this must not be an option since it would not leave any room for expansion/contraction [unless there is some sort of elastomeric grout solution or perhaps a T molding to cover the gap?].

So those are my ideas. I want to make the place look HOT and the majority of my money is going into wonderful appliances and kitchen cabinetry but I still want the floor to look luxurious and inviting.

My sister is a decorator but resides in Florida but ideas have been coming at a snail's pace from her. I did not tell her but if her design was good, I am sure that with all the other lofts in the bldg as well as the other many loft projects in L.A. that she would have gotten great referrals but I don't like to hold a carrot in front anyone for them to do something. I would rather they do it and then get a surprise...that's neither here nor there. The bottom line is that I am looking for some flooring design ideas.

Thanks,
Jorge

PS. The wood I got is an engineered wood called Distressed, Engineered Birch, Light Tobacco.

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