Finish Nailer For Hardwood Floor Installation

I used nothing but the finish nailer for a small bathroom.

Finish nailer for hardwood floor installation.

For correct use make sure the tool s nail shoe is well positioned on the tongue angled at about 15 degrees inward and downward as if moving to the plank. I own a pancake compressor and a finish nailer and opted for the rental floor nailer. I can get a heck of a deal on a bostitch 16 gauge nailer. People in this forum have suggested using a brad nailer or finish nailer for face nailing starter and end rows.

A finishing nailer will also do a decent job on the hardwood floor by shooting almost headless nails and it will leave no traces behind as you move. I am also laying it parallel to the joists on 3 4 plywood subfloor that is in good conditon. A 15 gauge may initially appear to have the advantage in that a sturdier nail should logically afford a stronger fastener. In my experience a 15 gauge finish nailer can work well for hardwood floor installation.

A 16 gauge finish nailer is more than adequate to hold down 5 16 inch hardwood which is the usual thickness of retrofit panels. I place the end of the finish nailer on the subfloor or rest it on the tongue tip it 30 45 degrees and aim the nailing end towards the angle between tongue and top of board. I ve read the debate about 15 vs 16 vs 18 gauge. Types of nails for laying hardwood floor.

There is really vey little room to swing a nailer hammer since i ll probably lay the first row in the middle of the hall and work towards both walls. 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. I plan to use a bostitch miii cleat nailer for my 0 75 x 3 25 brazilian cherry floor. But when working with hardwood there is a unique and important consideration.

Since molds are lightweight in most cases a brad nailer would work fine. Flooring nails have special qualities that make them suitable for the job. Which nailer is right for crown molding. I am putting 2 1 2 x 3 4 hardwood flooring in a hall that is about 36 wide.

The brad nails will not penetrate easily through the tough hardwood. To use this nailer position the nail shoe on the wood tongue at about a 15 degree angle downward and inward toward the plank.