Alright, guys, let’s talk about my little adventure with batten dancing hevea wooden flooring. I’ve always loved the look of hardwood floors, and I finally decided to take the plunge and install some in my living room. I went with hevea (that’s rubberwood, for those not in the know) because it’s supposed to be pretty durable and, you know, a bit more eco-friendly.

Getting Started

First things first, I measured the living room. Like, really measured it. I didn’t want to end up short on wood or, even worse, buy way too much. I jotted down all the dimensions, drew a little sketch, and then double-checked everything. You know the saying: measure twice, cut once. Well, in this case, it’s measure twice, order once!

Then came the fun part: picking out the wood! I went to a local lumber yard and looked at a bunch of different options. The hevea had a nice, light color and a pretty consistent grain, which is what I was going for. And, honestly, the price was right.

I ordered the wood, and the waiting game began. It took a couple of weeks for it to arrive, which gave me time to get all my other ducks in a row.

Prep Work is Key!

• I cleared out the entire living room. Furniture, rugs, everything. It was a blank canvas.
• I cleaned the subfloor like there was no tomorrow. Swept, vacuumed, mopped – the whole nine yards. Any little bit of dust or debris can mess with the installation, so I wanted it spotless.
• I let the hevea wood acclimatize. it needs to sit in the room for at least a couple of days to adjust to the humidity and temperature. Otherwise, you risk the wood expanding or contracting after you install it, which can lead to all sorts of problems.

The Installation Hustle

Okay, this is where things got real. I’m no professional carpenter, but I’m pretty handy, and I watched a ton of videos online. I rented a nail gun and a miter saw (because who owns one of those?).

I laid down a moisture barrier first. It is super important, especially if you’re installing over concrete. Then, I started laying out the first row of boards, making sure it was perfectly straight and square to the wall. This is crucial because the rest of the floor depends on that first row.

Then, it was time to start nailing! I used the nail gun to secure each board to the subfloor, making sure to follow the recommended spacing. It went pretty smoothly, but man, it was a workout! Bending over, kneeling, hammering… I definitely felt it the next day.

I continued to cut and install, working my way across the room. The miter saw was a lifesaver for cutting the boards to fit around doorways and corners. I did make a few mistakes here and there (oops!), but thankfully, nothing major.

Finishing Touches

Once all the boards were down, I installed the baseboards and trim to cover the expansion gaps around the edges of the room. This really gave it a polished, finished look.

I took a big step back and admired my handiwork. It wasn’t perfect, but it was mine. And honestly, it looked pretty darn good! The hevea wood had a beautiful, warm tone, and the whole room felt brighter and more inviting.

The whole project took me a few weekends, but it was totally worth it. Now I have a beautiful, durable hardwood floor that I can be proud of. And hey, I saved a bunch of money by doing it myself!

It’s totally doable, even for a regular person like me. Just take your time, do your research, and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!