Locking wood flooring is a snap to install – literally! In fact, that’s why so many people like it; they can install it themselves, instead of paying sky-high prices for a professional to do it.

But just because you install your engineered hardwood floor yourself doesn’t mean that it has to look amateurish. Instead, you will have a floating engineered hardwood floor that looks completely professional if you follow these 4 installation tips:

1. Use a 3-in-1 underlayment

Even the sturdiest of subfloors will need an underlayment laid down over them before you can install your floating engineered hardwood floor. The easiest one to work with is a 3-in-1 underlayment. That way, you will get a sturdy moisture barrier that also provides some sound insulation and some cushioning.
Remember, the better your underlayment is, the better your floating hardwood flooring will look sitting on top of it – so this isn’t a step to cut corners with!

2. Start in a corner of the room

It can be tempting to start right in the middle of the room and work your way out, but that won’t fetch you the best results. Instead, if you want your engineered hardwood floor to look professional, pick a corner to start with, and lay down an L-shaped plank, with the L pointing towards the wall.

3. Always start each row with a long plank
You will have to cut some of your engineered hardwood floor planks as you go along to make them fit, but never start a new row with one of those pieces. Instead, always start with a floating hardwood flooring plank that is at least 18″ long. That way, you’ll get a professional, uniform look – instead of locking wood flooring that looks like it was put together randomly.

But that doesn’t mean those cut-up pieces are a waste. You’ll be able to use them as you go along, strategically, so that your floating engineered hardwood floor doesn’t look piece-meal.

4. Straighten out the floor as you go along

Remember, floating hardwood flooring does what the name implies – it “floats” over your subfloor. As a result, it will slide a little bit as you lay down more pieces. If you don’t want your floor to look crooked, make sure to straighten everything out as you go along. Typically, you’ll need to straighten out your locking wood flooring planks every few rows.