Wood Flooring: A Complete Guide to Layout, Installation & Finishing Hardcover – Illustrated, February 23, 2010

I am a certified hardwood inspector for the NWFA and the information in this book in many cases you will not find anywhere else combine this book with Understanding Wood by Bruce Hoadley and really study it don't just read and discard it. I have read it 5 times and still find information that I did not catch the first times. This book is a must read for any installer and any company owner who employs subcontractors to do his installations.Anyone contemplating an installer would be well advised to buy this book study it and question your installer when he is not adhering to what you read here.I don't care if you have been in the business 40 + years as I have been you will find invaluable information in this book. If you have questions regarding the installation you have already had done and think something is amiss you find out why after reading this book. Then if unhappy with their explanation hire a NWFA certified inspector.It would be nice if installers would simply read the manufacturer's instructions, warranty info and care information that, usually is in every box, should be included in every box and if this information is followed 99% of the time would result in a perfect installation and a floor you could be happy with for a lifetime.Unfortunately, most sellers of hardwood have for the most part no inkling regarding the complexities of installing hardwood floors and few installers have the knowledge exhibited in this book.Of course then there would no need for inspectors and wouldn't that be a good thing. I have seen so many homeowners, builders, contractors take hard hits due to the caliber of installation particularly due to the acclimatization of hardwood. Setting it inside a home and then installing without determining that the subfloor and hardwood are within the 4%, or with floors wider than 3", 2% difference is against ALL mfg guidelines and NWFA guidelines and is the principal reason for failure of most installations. So for the reviewer who thinks this is unnecessary they need to rethink that statement.

This book is a "hardwood floor" masterpiece, covering ALL aspects of wood floor installation from surface prep and inspection to refinishing existing floors. The book FULLY illustrates the standard Harwood floor process as well as explaining the installation of contrasting inlays and complex wood medallions.The book fully reviews the details of installation between narrow and wide plank floor as well as the advantages of the various species of wood flooring.The author is a renowned expert in the wood floor industry, you could NOT do better than to read this book before undertaking a new hardwood project.I learned a great deal from this book, wish I had found it sooner! The price of this book is returned in "spades" by all the hard-won tips and installation tricks the author outlines in this book. Even if you are NOT new to hardwood flooring you will learn many new tricks and issues to look out for by reading this book.Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in hardwood flooring. I would hate to learn the "hard way" many of the issues the author exposes in this comprehensive book.Regards,Rick S.

I had the same complaint with this book that I did with another I bought -- not much information on layout if you have irregular shaped rooms. This book, however, does go into huge detail about laying out mosaic type flooring and the pictures are just awesome. The only mention Peterson makes about laying out an odd-shaped room is on one page.I hate to harp on the lack of information, but it was part of the title and led me to believe there would be more help. Finding the right way to layout a floor in a room that has 8 or 9 walls, none of which are parallel, is kind of a mind-messing challenge (or at least it was for me, a first-time layer of pine flooring).I really like this book for all the interesting ideas. If I ever get more skilled I'd love to try some of the designs Peterson demonstrates. The instructions for some of the flooring is really great.

I'm your average woodworker with a handful of tools in my shop, I'm not a professional floor installer. In fact, I knew nothing about installing floors, but after looking at a handful of quotes to have somebody else install my floor, I figured I should try it myself. However, the books on installing wood flooring simply don't provide the right type of information. Or at least I thought they didn't until I read Peterson's book. All I can say is wow, this is exactly what a flooring book should be.Now, to the individual who complained that Peterson showed you how to measure the moisture content with a fancy gauge, guess what? He also provided guidelines on not only why you wanted to do this, but what happens if your flooring falls outside this range. When you're flooring investment is several thousand dollars, it's best to listen to the experts and do it right, or you'll be doing it again. Peterson, knows his stuff and explains the in's and out's of flooring, along with some nice tidbits and tricks when installing flooring.If you only purchase one book on floor installation, make it this book.