Can I install hardwood floor (3/4" tongue & groove) with a finish nailer or should i rent/buy a tongue nailer?
Sep 16th, 2008 by admin
**A friend who is helping me has an air compressor and several pneumatic nailers, but not a "specific" tongue & groove hardwood nailer. (You know the one where you hit it with the mallet…) Installing 500 Sq/ft. Can just a normal nailer be used? Advantages/Disadvantages?
You really need a flooring nailer for this. Doesn't really need to be pneumatic. It would be easier, but 500 sf would not be too bad for a manual nailer.
Proper nail placement is important for flooring. It needs to go in at an angle to hold the flooring tight. A flooring nailer helps you get the flooring together tight as well. Instead of just pulling a trigger to place the nail, you hit the nailer with a mallet, driving the piece of flooring tight against the other and placing the nail in one action.
Don't turn down the finish nailer yet. You will need to nail the first and last few runs down through the face. You can't get the flooring nailer into the proper position next to a wall.
No!!!! If you where willing to spend that much money on a floor you should definitely use the right tools….Rent it!
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rent the special nailer you won't split your wood
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You really need a flooring nailer for this. Doesn't really need to be pneumatic. It would be easier, but 500 sf would not be too bad for a manual nailer.
Proper nail placement is important for flooring. It needs to go in at an angle to hold the flooring tight. A flooring nailer helps you get the flooring together tight as well. Instead of just pulling a trigger to place the nail, you hit the nailer with a mallet, driving the piece of flooring tight against the other and placing the nail in one action.
Don't turn down the finish nailer yet. You will need to nail the first and last few runs down through the face. You can't get the flooring nailer into the proper position next to a wall.
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You can use the pneumatic nailer…but it won't look as nice. The mallet nailer not only drives in the nail…but it also presses the boards close together for that tight fit as the nail goes in.
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Rent it. Its worth it. I install floors sometimes, and I rent one.
Its easier to make the finished product with the right tools.
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Rent the gun. Finish nails from a trim gun will not pull the flooring tight, and over time, you will have a ****load of squeaks.
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Absolutely, rent the flooring nailer. It is made at the correct angle to not only fasten the floor, but to ensure you have a tight fit between the boards.
You could use a different type nailer and "guesstimate it", but the chances are that unless this is your primary job (installing hardwood floors) it would decrease the quality of your installation.
Example: I could fasten carpet with a stapler after streching it by hand, and it might look OK at first, but a little later on, when it starts coming loose, it will definately show the shoddy workmanship. Use the correct tools for the job, and it will be both faster and better.
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