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Mike Conneely walks through a hardwood flooring installation at a custom home build, starting with site-finished white oak acclimating to indoor conditions before install. He explains why humidity control matters during acclimation and why the boards get nailed rather than glued given their width. Much of the discussion centers on subfloor prep—specifically why sanding the subfloor before installation creates a level surface for hardwood and tile alike. Conneely details the reasoning behind using thicker subfloor panels over dimensional lumber, how that extra thickness allows for sanding without sacrificing structural strength, and how it helps manage inconsistencies at joist transitions. He also touches on tar paper underlayment and considerations around specialty subfloor coatings.

Watch more of Mike's full episodes on The Build Show and follow him on Instagram at the links below.
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