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Asked by: Manole Mosegui
style and fashion nail careWhat kind of nail gun do I need for hardwood flooring?
Pneumatic flooring nailer or stapler is the best nailer to install hardwood floor. It is made specifically to fit over the top edge of plank and tongue. The flooring nailer shoots a headless nail through the tongue and into the subfloor. The accuracy of the flooring nailer is high while compared to other nailer.
Hereof, what kind of nails should I use for hardwood flooring?
Use 1-1/2" long cleat nails when installing thinner 1/2" thick wood flooring. Use 1-3/4" long cleat nails when installing 3/4" solid wood flooring, when 3/4" thick plywood is applied directly over a concrete slab—so the cleat nail does not go through the 3/4" thick plywood, hitting the concrete.
Keeping this in consideration, are staples or nails better for hardwood floors?
Staples. Because each staple grips the wood with two prongs, staples provide a tighter initial grip than cleat nails. However, flooring staples are more likely to back out as wood expands and contracts, loosening the hold and increasing the risk of squeaks.
Like most of the newer floor products, you can install it floatin without glue or nails, glued down or nailed into place on plywood and other wood product subfloors. A flooring nailer is the preferred method for attaching flooring, but a brad nailer, used correctly, runs a close second.