Preparation

• Inspect the flooring carefully when it is delivered. If any defect is found after the floor is laid, most manufacturers will not accept responsibility for it. Follow manufacturer recommendations for storage and acclimatization times. Generally, cherry hardwood flooring boards should be stored flat in an enclosed, temperature-controlled area at least four inches off the ground and allowed to acclimatize in the room where they will be installed for several days. The temperature in the building must be above 60 degrees Fahrenheit before the wood floor is delivered and must remain so while the wood acclimatizes and during installation. Use a moisture meter to check the moisture content of the subfloor. The subfloor moisture content should be below 14 percent. The preferred subfloor is 3/4 inch or thicker plywood. This varies so be sure to check on the manufacturer's recommendations for suitable subflooring for the particular product purchased.
  
  

Installation

• The cherry wood floor should be installed after everything except the woodwork and molding have been completed in a new house. Lay the wood flooring so that the boards lie perpendicular to the floor joists and, if possible, the length of the boards runs parallel along the longest wall. Lay the first board beginning in one corner with the grooved side facing the wall. Leave a 3/4-inch space between the floor boards and the wall for seasonal expansion. This space will be covered by the baseboard molding and, if necessary, shoe molding. Lay the next row so that the seams between board lengths are staggered and do not line up with the previous row. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for either nailing, stapling or gluing the boards in place. Install the baseboard molding after the floor is complete. The baseboard molding should be nailed to the wall just off the floor to allow for seasonal fluctuation. Nail a shoe molding to the baseboard if necessary to cover the gap between the edge of the wood floor and the wall. Again, the shoe molding, just like the baseboard molding, should be just slightly off the floor.