Installing Hardwood flooring Question

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

So almost 2 decades ago we put hardwood floors in our dinning room and living room. Full thickness Ash - not engineered.

I saved what we had left over for redoing a small area when the time came.
Well that time is now here and I will be putting that flooring in over the next week or two.

The question is should I rent the flooring nailer for this small project or could I staple it down with my 7/32" Bosch finish stapler? (through the tongue)

18 Gauge Finish Stapler Kit

www.bostitch.com

Room is 69" x 118"
Room being converted into a 69" x 74" pantry, and remaining is a pass thru to the bathroom from the dinning room &/or kitchen.

 

[larry4406]

I would get the correct angled nailer you hit with rubber mallet. It not only nails the floor, but first drives the T&G joint tight before driving the nail.

 

[HalfTonTom]

I would get the correct angled nailer you hit with rubber mallet. It not only nails the floor, but first drives the T&G joint tight before driving the nail.

I'm not so sure it's tongue and groove, based on OP's description. If it is, you make a good suggestion.

 

[larry4406]

I'm not so sure it's tongue and groove, based on OP's description. If it is, you make a good suggestion.

OP discussed nailing thru the tongue. Thus T&G I assumed.

 

[HalfTonTom]

OP discussed nailing thru the tongue. Thus T&G I assumed.

Doh! I missed the tongue part.

 

[cgrutt]

I would recommend using the correct nailer as suggested above but have predrilled and used finish nails before for example on several courses near wall where cleat nailer wouldn't fit. Being it is such a small area might get away with Staples but I'd test a few to make sure it doesn't split tongue. Cleats would be my first choice though as it allows for seasonal movement and nailer pulls the boards together tightly during fastening (mentioned above). Be sure to let boards acclimate a few days (or weeks) if they're stored outdoors or in unheated garage, etc. Also note depending on where you are located boards may be at their seasonal narrowest during winter make sure you allow for expansion or floor may buckle during summer months.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

Well we can scratch that idea all together, wife pulled out the "extra" we had and it is not enough to do the space.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

I would recommend using the correct nailer as suggested above but have predrilled and used finish nails before for example on several courses near wall where cleat nailer wouldn't fit. Being it is such a small area might get away with Staples but I'd test a few to make sure it doesn't split tongue. Cleats would be my first choice though as it allows for seasonal movement and nailer pulls the boards together tightly during fastening (mentioned above). Be sure to let boards acclimate a few days (or weeks) if they're stored outdoors or in unheated garage, etc. Also note depending on where you are located boards may be at their seasonal narrowest during winter make sure you allow for expansion or floor may buckle during summer months.

yeah with the floors I have down in front of the heat registers they shrink - open up during the winter and close up during the summer.

They have been stored under a bed in our spare room, so not exposed to anything outside the house's seasonal changes.

 

[cgrutt]

May want to hold off installing until summer. I've heard of people putting thin spacers such as credit card, sheet metal or even a penny every several courses to allow for movement when the humidity kicks up. Also be sure to maintain at least 1/4 to 3/8 gap around perimeter of room or any stationery objects.

 

[WisJim]

Last floor we did, a bedroom 12 x 12 with maple t&g, we rented a pneumatic nailer and borrowed a friend's compressor even though I own a nailer that uses the mallet. Much easier on an old guy's back and shoulders!

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

Thanks for the input guys.

Since we didn’t have enough of the Ash left we did a right turn and found some awesome LVP that the wife likes. Bonus is it is on close out and only $1.99 sqft. And they have enough to do the whole kitchen (future project)

Just saved $5K on that project

 

[Junkman]

You might have saved yourself a lot of aggravation trying to nail 10-year-old Ash. It is probably more like rock maple after all these years. We installed hickory about 4 years ago and I gave the balance to a friend that needed a few boards to complete his room. He told me that my hickory was a lot harder to work with than his recently purchased hickory that was kiln-dried a few months before.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

Decided I will be using the ash to make a butcher block counter top for the pantry.

Another $ saver