Installing Hardwood Floors Using The Nail Down Method

This method of fitting requires the boards to be secured with 2'' nails to a wooden sub-floor. Hardwood flooring nails are used, normally with 3/4'' boards. Staples may be used in stead of nails - but a pneumatic staple gun is required. When stapling, try to staple boards from between 6''- 8'' on center and roughly 2'' from each end when fastening.

Site Preparations for a Nail Down Installation.

In order to protect your hardwood floors from moisture, a barrier must be laid down.

Decide on a starting wall - the straighter and squarer to the rest of the room the easier your job will be. Calculate as accurately as possible the width of the last row of boards. Widths that are less than 1.5 '' can be distributed between the first and last rows. Measure two board widths from this wall and mark a line with some chalk. As previously stated not all walls are by default straight - so some boards may need to be shaved / sanded to fit.

Installing Hardwood Floors Using a Nail Down Method.

Lay the tongue edges of the first row of boards on the marked out chalk line. They must be perfectly aligned! With a drill you then want to place pilot holes on the face of each board and secure them with nails / staples to the sub-floor.

Once the initial row is secure, the following ones should be pre drilled and then secured with nails that are hammered in at a 45 degree angle. Just like with the other two methods to ensure a uniform surface, pay attention to the joins between boards and use a tapping block if needed to get them to fit snugly. Try to mix the lengths of the boards. By doing this you avoid joints clustering together.

When stapling, try to staple boards from between 6''- 8'' on center and roughly 2'' from each end when fastening. Finally when it comes to the base molding; remember to nail it to the wall and not to the floor and also try not to forget to leave room for expansion (1/4 inch).

Click here for a complete inventory of recommended nailers and staplers.