Preparation is the key to installing a hardwood floor. Make sure you measure the room for squareness and provide yourself with a square layout. Pull up any carpet tacks, staples or other objects in the subfloor. It helps to vacuum the room to make sure all debris is removed.

You can also fix any squeaks in sub-floor, prior to hardwood floor installation by screwing the plywood to the floor joists. Let the new wood for the floor acclimate for a few days and if the wood is in boxes, take hardwood out of the boxes and mix up the pieces because the coloration and grain of the hardwood will vary from box to box. You can rent an air compressor and flooring nailer (and finish nailer for face nailing where the flooring nailer will not fit) from your local home improvement store. Use a scrap piece of flooring as a "beater board" when compressing the tongue and groove of the floor together.