Okay, so I’ve been wanting to redo my floors for, like, forever. And I finally decided to go for it! I picked out this “rubber dancing maple” assembled wooden flooring – sounds fancy, right? It’s basically pre-assembled panels of maple, so you don’t have to mess with individual planks. I thought it would be easier. We’ll see about that…

Getting Started

First, I cleared out the entire room. Furniture, rugs, everything. It was a workout in itself! Then, I made sure the subfloor was super clean and level. I even used a leveler in a few spots where it was a bit uneven. This is a must because it can directly affect the flooring’s installation.

The Laying Down Part

Next up, I rolled out the underlayment. It is used for smoothing any tiny imperfections and will help with soundproofing. I taped the seams together to keep everything in place. I picked a starting wall (the longest one, supposedly) and started laying down the first row of panels. It needs to keep a little space from the wall edge. I used some spacers to make sure I had a consistent gap – expansion and contraction, you know?

• Clicked the panels together. Some went in super easy, others… not so much.
• Used a tapping block and a rubber mallet to gently persuade the stubborn ones. Don’t go crazy with the hammer, or you’ll damage the edges!
• Measured and cut the last panel in the row to fit. I used a jigsaw, but I think a circular saw would have been faster. Note to self for next time.

Row by Row

Then it was just a matter of repeating the process, row by row. I staggered the seams, making sure they didn’t line up with the previous row – it looks better and is supposed to be stronger that way. I kept checking to make sure everything was staying straight and level. It’s easy to get off track, and then you’re in trouble!

The Tricky Bits

Around doorways and things, I had to get creative with the cuts. I used a contour gauge to trace the shape onto the panels, and then carefully cut them out with the jigsaw. It took some patience, and I definitely messed up a couple of pieces. Good thing I bought extra!

Finishing Up

Once all the panels were down, I removed the spacers and installed the baseboards. I have to be honest, this part felt like it took almost as long as laying the floor itself! Lots of measuring, cutting, and nailing. Finally, I cleaned up all the sawdust and mess, and moved the furniture back in.

It’s done! It took a solid weekend of work, and my back is definitely feeling it, but it looks amazing. Was it easier than individual planks? Maybe a little. Would I do it again? Probably. But I might hire someone to do the baseboards next time…