You can use either staples or nails for installing or replacing hardwood floors. Each has its advantages, but the success of either method will depend on the size and length of the nails or staples that are used. The regular nails do not have the holding power to keep the wood from moving. You need special nails called cleats for flooring.
Full Answer
How many nails do I need for hardwood flooring?
What Size Nails for a 3/4 Wood Floor?
- Plywood Subfloor. Three-fourth-inch sheets are the standard in plywood subfloors. ...
- ¾-Inch Wood Floor. Finished wood flooring planks, such as hardwood and laminate flooring, install over a plywood subfloor surface.
- Nails for Subfloor. ...
- Nails for Walking Floor. ...
What size nails do you use for hardwood flooring?
What nail size is the best for hardwood flooring?
- 1-3/4” for 3/4″ thick flooring
- 1-1/2” for 1/2” thick flooring
- 2” for 1” thick flooring
What flooring is better, tile or hardwood?
- Marble flooring, though almost maintenance-free, is quite expensive.
- Wooden flooring requires re-polishing at regular intervals and is especially disadvantageous if you live in an area that receives a lot of rains, as that can attract wood rot.
- Tile flooring is extremely easy to maintain and does not attract bacteria and other contamination. Howe
Can I use a nail gun to install hardwood floor?
You may use certain types of nail guns to install a hardwood floor, but practice on scrap wood first to ensure that you master the correct technique. You can use three types of nailers on a hardwood floor: a flooring nailer, a finish nailer or a flooring and mallet nailer. Framing nail guns are not suitable due to nail size and configuration.
Is it better to nail or staple hardwood flooring?
A staple will give a stronger, less-forgiving hold because of its two-pronged construction. Nails allow for a more natural expansion and contraction of the hardwood floorboards with fewer problems.
Can you lay hardwood floor over staples?
Irrespective of whether you have an old wooden floor that will serve as the subfloor of your new flooring, or if you have laid plywood over the original floor, you will be able to make the choice between nail or staples as the fitting method for your new floor.
What kind of nails should I use for hardwood flooring?
The 8D or 8-penny size finishing nail is common for the job of flooring. Predrilling nail holes avoids split boards. Additionally, a nail-set tool lets you tap the nail head into the board without the risk of denting it with the hammer.
Can you staple hardwood?
2:203:33Engineered Hardwood Floor Installation: Part 2 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe third row you can use the floor stapler staples are typically used on engineered woods and nailsMoreThe third row you can use the floor stapler staples are typically used on engineered woods and nails on solid hardwoods. You can practice on a scrap piece to adjust the air pressure the staples must
Do staples hold better than nails?
Considering their great holding power, low cost, quick installation and neat finish, they are missing out! With a variety ranging from narrow to wide, staples can provide a superior hold compared to nails in your toughest projects.
Should you nail down hardwood floors?
Solid hardwood floors must be fixed into position by either gluing or nailing down to the subfloor. Engineered hardwood floors can be glued or nailed into position, but they also have the option of being floated over an underlay.
How long should nails be for hardwood floors?
While installing 3/4” solid hardwood flooring, 2" long nails or staples should be used. Shorter 1-3/4" or 1-1/2" nails might be used for thinner wood flooring like engineered wood floors. Each plank or strip has to be nailed every 8" and 3" from both ends of the plank.
How often should you staple hardwood?
Hardwood strips that are on the wider range, four to seven inches in width, will need nails four to six inches apart. Strips that are from three inches to less than four inches in width require nails every six to eight inches. Narrow strips of less than three inches wide need nails every eight to ten inches.
Are flooring staples better than cleats?
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.
How long should flooring staples be?
Use 1" to 1-1/4" long staples for thinner 1/4" to 5/16" thick floors. Use 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" long staples for 3/8" to 1/2" thick floors. Use 1-1/2" long staples for 5/8" thick floors.
Can you use a regular nail gun for hardwood floors?
You may use certain types of nail guns to install a hardwood floor, but practice on scrap wood first to ensure that you master the correct technique. You can use three types of nailers on a hardwood floor: a flooring nailer, a finish nailer or a flooring and mallet nailer.
How do you nail down the first row of hardwood floors?
2:535:48How to install hardwood flooring (Nail down) // Home Renovation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI used a nail set to drive those nail heads down below the surface. And then came back later andMoreI used a nail set to drive those nail heads down below the surface. And then came back later and filled in the holes with wood filler. For the next layer to set them in place drill.
Do you have to remove staples before installing hardwood?
You MUST remove all the staples and tackless prior to laying your hardwood. For those of you who don't know what tackless is, it's what keeps the carpet in place.
Do you have to remove staples before installing laminate?
Carpet, its padding, and all its staples must be completely removed — down to the subfloor — before you install laminate flooring.
Do you have to remove staples before installing vinyl plank flooring?
Vinyl flooring will cover most surfaces as long as they are rigid, flat, and dry. Pull up the old floor and work along the subfloor to remove staples and nails that are not driven into the floor surface. For safety reasons, contact your county for asbestos testing before disturbing adhesives.
Do you have to remove staples when replacing carpet?
When you lay the new pad and carpet down, you will not feel the flattened staples under foot. Tack strips around the walls need to be left down also. Do not remove these unless they have pet damage to them, as well. These can be reused and if any parts need to be replaced, the installer will do so.
Benefits of Nailing
One of the main benefits of nailing hardwood floors is how long people have been doing it. Hardwood flooring installers have been nailing floors down for generations and many believe it to be the best method to fix hardwood floors.
Benefits of stapling
One of the main benefits of stapling your hardwood flooring down is how time effective it is, as it is super quick to install!
In summary
Which option you choose to install your hardwood flooring will come down to personal preference and convenience.
What is the most important thing to consider when laying 3/4" hardwood floors?
Insuring you have a suitable subfloor is the most important ingredient for any successful installation when laying solid 3/4" hardwoods. Failure to heed this vital prerequisite will lead to spongy, creaking, and popping sounds. Nails or staples need a proper bite, otherwise they will loosen over time.
How do staples gain strength?
Staples on the other hand, gain their strength by not only a two pronged approach but also through the use of a hardened glue resin coating. Once the staple is engaged by a pneumatic tool, friction caused by the force going through wood and subfloor heats up the resin acting as an adhesive.
How many calories does it take to nail a 1,000 square foot nail?
Pneumatic became the tool of choice, working from air pressure with a connected compressor. No longer did it take one million calories (or so it seemed) to nail 1,000 square feet because manual tools were very labor intensive.
Where to check for scratches on prefinished floor?
If you're handling any installation, specifically a prefinished floor, check the plate on the underside of the fastener. Even though it's generally made of vinyl nylon, anything embedded in the bottom will scratch the floor.
Can you use a nail whack on wood flooring?
Common manual tools were often difficult to use if you didn't have the proper physique or strength. In order to get the nail seated properly in the tongue portion of the floor, a pretty good whack with dead on aim was needed. Failure to do so causes problems with nails that don't go all the way into the wood flooring.
Can a nailer fit near walls?
There comes a point when the nailer will not fit near walls and we resort to the finish nailer again. If you've kept some longer straight boards for this area you'll see how much easier it is to finish off the area opposed to using random boards that are not straight. Through the larger open areas it becomes much easier to get a tight fitting floor because there's leverage in tapping them into place with the rubber side of the mallet. Pneumatic nailers also exert a good amount of force keeping those boards together too.
Can you vacuum under carpet to install hardwood?
Let's say you're removing carpet to install new hardwoods. You are better off vacuuming the dirt that will be found under the carpet and padding as any sweeping will certainly leave dust scattered everywhere. Once the job begins it's wise to handle all the cutting of material in a garage or outdoors.
What is the best nail for hardwood floors?
Among the most popular and useful nails for hardwood floors is the T-head nail. It looks like a T, hence the name. The top is thicker, and then gradually, it gets narrower towards the bottom. These are made from heavy steel and galvanized. In terms of design, these stand to be the strongest.
What size nails are used for a T head?
Regarding size, the most common sizes are 2, 1-3/4, 1-1/2 inches in length, and 16 and 18 gauge in diameter.
How long are bostitch nails?
These Bostitch nails are L-shaped and 2 inches long. If you are looking to install 3/4″ hardwood flooring, then this is a perfect size. This specific pack contains 1,000 cleats.
What are 3/4" nails?
If you’re working with 3/4″ solid hardwood flooring, you may consider this option. These flooring nails are cleats with an L shape. Unlike your ordinary nails, you get them in stacks ready to go into the nailer machines. Both the shape and size of the cleats are designed for maximum durability.
How many square feet does a pack of hardwood flooring cover?
Each pack will cover 200 square feet of hardwood flooring. For more coverage, you can either buy more packs, or you can buy larger packs of 5,000 units. These cleats are strong and durable. Unlike ordinary nails, there is an almost zero chance of cracking or bending.
What are Brad nails used for?
Brad nails, as they are called, are mostly used in crafts, upholstery, and decoration. But these can be used in hardwood flooring as well. Even though these are made of heavy steel, they fall short in durability as they are found in only 18 gauge in diameter.
Is there a shortage of nailing for flooring?
There is no shortage of flooring nails on the market. They come in different shapes, sizes, and packages. But which of them deserves your money? Read the reviews and decide for yourself.
