How To Install Hardwood Flooring Without Nai Gun

A finish nail gun designed for trim work shoots a near headless nail that does not mar the surface look of the wood which makes a finish nailer effective for installing hardwood floors as well.

How to install hardwood flooring without nai gun.

Flooring stapler and 16 gauge 2 in. Option 1 face nail using finish nails then angle nail the first few rows of boards you install. If you re just looking for a list of tools and tips you can skip this part and scroll down to step 3 the bedroom we are re. You ll need a nail set when hand nailing flooring and you should use it when the head is about 1 2 inch out.

Flooring nailer is designed for the installation of tongue and groove hardwood flooring. This means to drive nails into the tops of the boards. Finish nails are not flooring nails. To use this nailer position the nail shoe on the wood tongue at about a 15 degree angle downward and inward toward the plank.

Option 2 face nail using electric brand nail gun or finish nail gun the first few rows of boards you install. Face nail the first course of flooring. Another freeman nail gun for flooring series is a 3 in 1 pneumatic flooring that will help you install up to three types of fasteners without having to remove the magazine for a different set. Doing so is likely to create squeaks down the road as the fasteners begin to loosen.

Here s how to install flooring using the nail down method. In this case i used a porter cable pneumatic nail gun that shoots 15 gauge finish nails. Used when installing solid hardwood nail down installation is chosen due to how quickly and cost effectively it can be done. This tool should only be used for nailing near walls and not a substitute for installing the entire floor.

The numax sfl618 pneumatic 3 in 1 15 5 gauge 2 in. This will keep your very first rows straight where wall prevents the use of the floor nail gun. If you try to nail any deeper than that without a nail set you ll. To prevent the wood from splitting and avoid bent nails it s essential to pre drill holes.

That means you can use the l cleats t cleats and staples. Crown staples from 1 1 2 in. Align the first board with the layout line with the tongue facing into the room.