Before learning how to install hardwood flooring, you need to choose the flooring. From traditional hardwood flooring to flooring that just snaps together, you have dozens if not hundreds of different options.

The nice thing about laminates and snap-together hardwood flooring is that they come with installation instructions. If you want to install traditional hardwood flooring, you'll want to follow these steps.

First, you need to put down a flooring base. Before you begin, remove the baseboards. Remember, the subfloor needs to be clean, dry, and level.

Whether you're picking up your new flooring at a home improvement center or having it delivered by a flooring company, time its arrival so that it will be stacked inside the house for a few days. Unless you let the wood adjust to your home environment, it won't fit properly. This is because wood reacts to different humidity levels and temperatures by expanding and contracting.

When you're considering how to install hardwood flooring, you must determine the direction in which the floor joists (supports) run, and mark their position at the base of the walls for reference. Now you'll need to layer the top of the subfloor with 15-pound asphalt felt.

This does a few things for you: It protects the flooring from moisture and minimizes squeaking and creaking. If you're installing the hardwood floor in your bathroom or kitchen, this step is especially important.

To indicate the position for your first board, mark the centerline of your room. When installing, leave a 1/2-inch gap at the walls.

To avoid marring and indenting your wood with your hammer, make sure to use a nail set when you finish hammering in each nail. To prevent shifting, be sure to nail the first three boards or so by hand. You should do this even if you're using a pneumatic flooring nailer.

As projects go, learning how to install hardwood flooring isn't a difficult task. But it is a precise project, and it will take time.

Make sure to visit How to Install for more tips on everything from How to Install Carpet to How to Install Recessed Lighting.