The two gauges of nails typically used for hardwood floors are 16- and 18-gauge. The higher the gauge number, the thinner the nail. Use the specific gauge of nail recommended by the manufacturer for your floor. This will depend on the hardness of the wood, its thickness and whether it is solid or engineered.
Do you need a nail gun for flooring?
If you are installing pre-finished hardwood flooring, you'll need a flooring stapler or nailer. Decide whether you want a manual flooring nailer or pneumatic flooring tool. If you have a large installation project, choose the pneumatic tool. While more expensive, it will make the job faster and save you fatigue.Mar 6, 2019
Can you use 15 gauge nails for hardwood floors?
While the 15-gauge guns do usually fire like a cannon, a 16-gauge still recesses the nail heads 1/16- or 1/32-inch through hardwood, which is entirely adequate for a floor installation.
What nail gun should I use for flooring?
One of the best nailers to use to install a hardwood floor is a pneumatic flooring nailer or stapler. Made specifically to fit over the top edge of the plank and the tongue, this nailer shoots a headless nail through the tongue and into the subfloor or the floor joist beneath.
What is a flooring nailer?
Floor nailers are available in two variations, manual or pneumatic (air powered). You might hear a contractor refer to this tool as a flooring cleat nailer, as it most often takes cleat nails for fastening. A manual flooring nailer will require additional muscle, as it relies solely on its user's strength.
Is it better to staple or nail 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. While staples have become increasingly popular over nails, they tend to damage the floors more often.
What kind of nailer do you use for engineered hardwood floors?
A brad nailer is one way to install engineered hardwood. Engineered hardwood is a solid wood floor product that is manufactured from thin layers of hardwood laminated together to provide planks with good durability and incredible dimensional consistency.
Do I have to use a flooring nailer?
Finish Nailer Not everyone keeps a flooring nailer around because it has only one use. If you're handy with a finish nail gun, you can use it to install a hardwood floor. Use finish nails that are long enough to go through the subfloor, if there is one, and at least 1/2 inch into the floor joists.
Do you need nail gun for laminate flooring?
Although a nail gun is unnecessary when installing laminate flooring, a hammer or mallet is required whether working with glue-together or snap-together style floors.
Do you have to nail hardwood flooring?
Solid hardwood floors must be fixed into position by either gluing or nailing down to the subfloor. However, if you are planning on fitting your hardwood floor to joists, then you will need to secret nail them into place.