Quick Answer
Hardwood floor installation is the professional layout of new solid or engineered wood planks over a properly prepared subfloor, including acclimation, nailing or gluing, sanding and finishing.
- Licensed MHIC #141267
- Fully Insured & Bonded
- 15+ Years Experience
- Family-Owned
- HEPA Dustless Sanding
- Premium Bona & Loba Finishes
- Written Scope & Timeline
- 15% Veteran Labor Discount
CDS Hardwood Floors installs premium solid, engineered and wide-plank hardwood in homes and commercial spaces across Maryland, Northern Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and the Washington DC metro. Every installation starts with moisture testing and subfloor preparation — the two steps most cheap installers skip and the reason most new floors cup, gap or squeak within a year.
We install the full range of formats — traditional strip, wide plank up to 10", herringbone, chevron, and custom borders and inlays. Our crews are trained on premium mill product from Bruce, Mirage, Somerset, Shaw and Mohawk, and we're happy to install owner-supplied material when the mill and grade are appropriate.
Whether you're building a new luxury home in Potomac, updating a rowhouse in Georgetown or replacing carpet in a Fairfax colonial, our installations are designed to look and perform beautifully for decades.
Key Takeaways
- Insist on written moisture readings before install day
- Acclimate material in the actual space for at least 72 hours
- Engineered hardwood is required over concrete slabs and radiant heat
- A well-installed solid oak floor can outlast the house
Problems We're Called In to Solve
Cupping or crowning after installation
Nearly always caused by skipping acclimation or moisture testing. We test both subfloor and material before install.
Gaps in winter
Normal seasonal movement, but excessive gapping means the wood was over-humidified during install. We install to spec humidity.
Squeaks
Loose subfloor panels. We re-screw and glue plywood subfloors before laying hardwood.
The CDS Process
1. Free on-site consultation
We measure, discuss species, plank width, direction, stain and finish, and walk you through samples on site.
2. Written estimate within 24 hours
Line-itemed pricing with no hidden charges, plus a proposed timeline.
3. Material acclimation
Hardwood sits in the space 3–7 days to match its humidity — critical in the DMV where seasonal swings are severe.
4. Subfloor prep
Moisture testing, leveling, fastening loose panels, adding vapor barrier where needed.
5. Installation
Nail-down, glue-down or floating depending on species and subfloor type.
6. Sanding & finishing (unfinished only)
Multi-grit sequence, custom stain and 2–3 coats of Bona or Loba finish.
7. Final walkthrough
You inspect before we invoice. Anything you're not satisfied with, we correct.
Ready to talk about your project?
Material, Stain & Finish Options
- • Solid hardwood — white oak, red oak, walnut, maple, hickory, ash
- • Engineered hardwood for slabs, radiant heat and basements
- • Wide-plank options up to 10" widths
- • Herringbone and chevron patterns
- • Bona and Loba commercial-grade finishes
Why Homeowners Choose CDS
CDS Hardwood Floors is a family-owned, Maryland-licensed contractor (MHIC #141267), fully insured and bonded, based in Gaithersburg with 15+ years of hands-on work in Montgomery County homes. Our crews have finished landmark commercial work — including DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC — alongside thousands of residential projects. Veterans receive 15% off labor.
- A clean, respectful crew that arrives on time and protects adjacent surfaces
- Daily communication with the project lead
- Furniture moved and returned as agreed in your estimate
- Dust containment during any sanding phase
- A written punch list and final walkthrough before payment
What Affects the Investment
Every home is different, so pricing is set after we see the floors. These are the factors we weigh in your written proposal:
- • Total square footage and layout complexity
- • Species and grade — white oak and walnut cost more than red oak or maple
- • Plank width — wider planks cost more per SF
- • Pattern — herringbone and chevron require significantly more labor
- • Subfloor condition and any leveling or repairs required
- • Stair treads, transitions, borders and custom millwork
- • Removal and disposal of existing flooring
Project Case Studies
Caring for the Result
- • Sweep or vacuum weekly with a soft-brush attachment
- • Damp mop monthly with a pH-neutral wood cleaner (Bona is our go-to)
- • Never wet-mop or use vinegar, steam or oil soap
- • Add felt pads to all furniture legs
- • Screen and recoat every 5–7 years; full refinish every 15–25 years
Warranty & Guarantee
CDS Hardwood Floors installations are backed by a 1-year workmanship warranty against installation defects. Manufacturer warranties on the flooring itself (typically 25 years to lifetime) are transferred to you in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does new hardwood need to acclimate before installation?
Wood moves with moisture. We deliver the material and let it reach equilibrium with your home's humidity, and we moisture-test both the planks and the subfloor before the first board goes down. Skipping this is the usual cause of cupping and gapping in the first year.
Can you install hardwood I purchased myself?
Yes, when the mill, grade and thickness are appropriate for the room and subfloor. We inspect owner-supplied material and flag anything that would compromise the installation before we schedule.
Do you install wide-plank, herringbone and chevron patterns?
We install traditional strip, wide plank up to 10 inches, herringbone, chevron, and custom borders and inlays. Pattern work is laid out from a center line so the room reads symmetrically.
How long does hardwood floor installation take in a typical home?
Most residential projects are completed within 3–7 working days, depending on square footage, drying times and any repairs required. We provide a firm timeline in your written estimate.
Do I need to move out during hardwood floor installation?
In most cases, no. Our dustless equipment keeps the home habitable, though we recommend staying off finished areas for 24–72 hours to let the finish cure.
Can I schedule a consultation?
Yes. Every hardwood floor installation project starts with an on-site consultation and a detailed written quote, usually delivered within 24 hours.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. CDS Hardwood Floors is a Maryland-licensed contractor (MHIC #141267), fully insured and bonded for your protection.
Written by
Daniel Santos
Owner, CDS Hardwood Floors
Daniel Santos is the owner of CDS Hardwood Floors and has spent 15+ years sanding, staining and installing hardwood in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC homes. He personally walks most projects, specializes in HEPA-contained dustless sanding, premium water-based finish systems and custom installations, and believes homeowners make better decisions when the process is explained plainly before a single board is touched.
Read More From Our Team
Hardwood Floor Installation: The Complete Homeowner's Guide
Subfloor prep, acclimation, nail-down vs glue-down, and the questions to ask before you sign a contract.
Engineered vs. Solid Hardwood: Which Should You Choose?
The practical differences between engineered and solid hardwood — stability, refinishing, cost, and where each works best.
Site-Finished vs. Prefinished Hardwood: Pros and Cons
The tradeoffs on appearance, durability, cost, install time and refinishability.
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Where We Work
CDS Hardwood Floors is based at 21008 Golf Estates Dr, Gaithersburg, MD 20882. Our primary service market is Montgomery County and the surrounding Maryland communities:
- Gaithersburg, MD
- Rockville, MD
- Potomac, MD
- North Potomac, MD
- Bethesda, MD
- North Bethesda, MD
- Germantown, MD
- Clarksburg, MD
- Olney, MD
- Damascus, MD
- Frederick, MD
- Montgomery County, MD
We also serve extended markets in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, nearby West Virginia and Pennsylvania. See all service areas.
Book Your Consultation
Tell us about your floors and we'll walk the space with you, talk through options and send a written proposal.