Cleat Nailer

Cleat Nailer

Subfloors, Staplers, And Other Tools For A Hardwood Flooring Installation

You've made the decision to install hardwood flooring into your home. Moreover, you've decided to handle the project yourself rather than spending the money on professional installers. You're understandably excited (maybe a little nervous) about doing the job correctly the first time. As with any home improvement project that you undertake, the more prepared you are, the better the outcome.

With that in mind, we'll explore some of the tools of the trade. Assuming you want to avoid the labor-intensive "nail and hammer" approach used by installers long ago, you'll need to acquire a stapler or nailer to fasten the nails. You'll also want to make sure you have a proper subfloor in place. We'll introduce you these tools and others to help prepare you for the job at hand.

Making Sure You Have A Proper Subfloor

In many ways, your finished wood floors will only be as good as your subfloor. This is the portion that lies directly underneath your strips, planks, or parquets. Your nails will fasten the two together. If your subfloor is unsuitable, you can expect your flooring to creak, groan, and pop down the road.

If your subfloor is concrete, make sure it's dry before laying your hardwood floors. Moisture can require up to two months to dissipate; if the concrete doesn't dry thoroughly, it will cause problems later. Concrete is commonly used for sub-flooring in homes that lack a basement. Otherwise, wood is used.

Aside from being dry, it's important that your subfloor is level and of a suitable grade given the variety of wood you're using for the flooring. It's also important that you stick to either concrete or wood. Don't use particle board or pressboard. Neither are strong enough to provide the necessary support for the nails.

Tools For Fastening Your Nails

Long before nailing tools were powered by compressed air, they required the installer to use his strength to drive the nails with a hammer. To suggest it was tough, painstaking work is an understatement. Fortunately, those tools have been all but replaced with pneumatic fasteners. Rather than requiring you to hit (with precise aim) the nail in order to seat it into the boards, these air-powered nailers and staplers only require a small tap. The majority of the work is handled by the compressed air.

So, which tool should you use: a pneumatic nailer or a stapler? The answer depends on whom you ask. A lot of experts suggest that staplers are problematic because they fasten the hardwood floors too tightly against the subfloor. That creates creaking. On the other hand, some people feel that staplers fasten the nails more securely than a cleat nailer and thus, do the job more effectively. In the end, you should ask the manufacturer of the wood you're using which fastener is more appropriate.

Nails, Staples, And Mallets

The nails that are seated by pneumatic nailers have a barb-like cut on their end. When they're driven through the wood board and subfloor, the barbs grab and hold the two layers together. Staples work differently. Their ends are treated with a special resin that improves their gripping ability. When the staples are engaged by a pneumatic stapler and driven through the solid wood and subfloor, the resulting friction activates the resin and gives it a glue-like quality.

Even though you're using an air-powered fastener, you'll need to have a mallet within reach. One side will be made from hard rubber while the other side is made from metal. The rubber end can be used to correct mild bowing in your strips or planks. The metal end is there simply to balance the weight.

Those are the main tools you'll need to install your hardwood floors. You'll also want to have glue, a tape measure, and a saw nearby for quick measurements and fixes. Equipped with the above instruments, you're ready to start the installation.

About the Author

This information was provided by Footprints Floors, a company focused on ethical business and hard work, provides Denver hardwood flooring. Visit them online at http://www.footprintsfloors.com

Bostitch MFN201 2-in Manual Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer Kit $249.99 Manual Flooring Cleat Nailer - MFN201. Mallet. Flooring Adapters (for 1/2-in & 5/8-in flooring). Hex Wrenches. Carrying Case

Bostitch MIIIFN 2-in Pneumatic Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer $459.99 Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer - MIIIFN. 1/2-in Base Plate. 3/4-in Base Plate. Graphite Mallet. Pre-Finished Flooring Adapter Foot

Factory Reconditioned Bostitch U/MFN201 2-in Manual Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer Kit $189.99 Manual Flooring Cleat Nailer - U/MFN201. Mallet. Flooring Adapters (for 1/2-in & 5/8-in flooring). Hex Wrenches. Carrying Case

Factory Reconditioned Bostitch U/MIIIFN 2-in Pneumatic Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer $369.99 Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer - U/MIIIFN. 1/2-in Base Plate. 3/4-in Base Plate. Graphite Mallet

Christmas Nailer $10 Christmas Nailer

Q.e.p. roberts Q.e.p. roberts Portamatic Tl Nailer 470 $494.99 Portamatic tl nailer The 470 Portamatic TL pneumatic tongue and groove wood flooring nailer by PortaNails is designed to meet your wood flooring installation needs with speed and accuracy that is second to none Comes ready to nail 3/4? thick wood flooring and includes a shoe pad for nailing 1/2? wood flooring using the industry standard PortaNails T or L shaped flooring nails or cleats Designed to accept (1) 3/16?, 1-1/2?, and 2? wood flooring nails to accommodate all of your flooring application needs You choose the PortaNail flooring fastener T or L based on the style you are now using or style that is readily available to you Operates at 70 to 90 P.S.I. with a light tap of the mallet and ensures the PortaNail is set tight in the proper location every time for a wood floor that stays put The Portamatic TL has an integrated safety to prevent accidental discharge The PortaNail Portamatic TL 470 includes a carry case, nonmarring mallet, owner's manual, instructional DVD, spare parts O-ring kit, pad for nailing 1/2? wood flooring, wrenches, and lubricating oil PortaNails 16-gauge flooring nails are made of the finest materials and well defined serrated barbs to provide superior holding power and will not let go PortaNails are also available in stainless steel for applications requiring a noncorrosive flooring nail or application using ACQ treated materials A wide profile shoe is available to position the Portamatic TL in front of tongue to provide balance and protection for prefinished flooring Brand #: Porta-Nails 470 UPC: 726205004703 Keywords: pneumatic floor nailer portamatic tl cleat flooring

Bostitch N66BC-1 2-1/2-in Cap Nailer $329.99 Cap Nailer - N66BC. Carrying Case

Hitachi Power Tools 2.50in. 15 Gauge Angled Finish Nailer With Air Duster NT65MA $277.3 Finish nailer. Integrated air duster can be used to clear away dust and debris from the work surface in preparation for nailing or gluing. Tool less easy to cleat nose for quick nail extraction should nail jam during use. Selective actuation switch allows for either sequential or contact nailing with a simple flip of the switch no tools or parts required. Tool less depth of drive nail adjusts for flush fastening into varying materials for improved control and professional finish. 360deg; fully adjustable exhaust portal direct air exhaust away from the user or work piece. 34deg; magazine angle allows the user to reach into corners or tight spaces with ease. No mar tip protect the work surface from damage and can be removed if needed. Rubber grip adds comfort and a secure hold. Length: 16.9. Width: 15. Height: 4.8

DEWALT D51180 Palm Nailer $89.99 Palm Nailer - D51180. Leather Comfort Grip. 1/4" Fitting. Safety Glasses

Stanley TRE550 Electric Stapler/Brad Nailer $34.99 Electric Stapler/Brad Nailer - TRE550

Factory Reconditioned Bostitch U/MIII812CNCT 5/8-in - 2-1/4-in Industrial Concrete Nailer $269.99 Industrial Concrete Nailer - U/MIII812CNCT

Bostitch N80CB-1 15 Degree 3-1/4-in Coil Framing Nailer $289.99 Coil Framing Nailer - N80CB

Factory Reconditioned Bostitch U/N80CB-1 15 Degree 3-1/4-in Coil Framing Nailer $189.99 Coil Framing Nailer - U/N80CB

Freeman PMPN MiniPalm Nailer $61.43 The MiniPalm Nailer is a small powerful hammer to assist you in your hammering needs. There is no need to swing a hammer in tight spaces and hard to reach areas. The MiniPalm nailer can equip nails from 6d to 16d and will drive up to 3.5 inch nails. The Palm nailer weighs at 1.38 lbs. for ease of use and comfort.

Adidas Turf Replacement Cleat - Softball Shoe & Softball Cleat Accessories $7.99 Softball Shoe & Softball Cleat Accessories - Softball Shoe & Softball Cleat Accessories

Adidas Replacement Cleat Wrench - Softball Shoe & Softball Cleat Accessories $2.99 Softball Shoe & Softball Cleat Accessories - Softball Shoe & Softball Cleat Accessories

DEWALT D55141FNBN Finish Nailer, Brad Nailer & Compressor Combo Kit $299.99 0.6 HP Hand Carry Electric Trim Compressor - D55141. 1-1/4-in 18-Gauge Brad Nailer - D51236. 2-1/2-in 16-Gauge Finish Nailer - D51256

Bostitch F28WW 28 Degree 3-1/2-in Industrial Framing Nailer System $229.99 Wire Weld Framing Nailer - F28WW

Prime Global PMPN MiniPalm Nailer $61.43 The MiniPalm Nailer is a small powerful hammer to assist you in your hammering needs. There is no need to swing a hammer in tight spaces and hard to reach areas. The MiniPalm nailer can equip nails from 6d to 16d and will drive up to 3.5 inch nails. The Palm nailer weighs at 1.38 lbs. for ease of use and comfort.

Porter-Cable BNPN-P 18 Gauge 1-1/4-in Brad Nailer and 23 Gauge 1-in Pin Nailer Kit $99.99 18 Gauge 1-1/4-in Brad Nailer - BN138. 23 Gauge 1-in Pin Nailer - PIN100. Soft Sided Carrying Case

Bostitch PN50 Mini Impact Palm Nailer $35.99 Mini Impact Nailer - PN50. 360 degree swivel air fitting

Factory Reconditioned Bosch RN175-RT 15 Degree 1-3/4-in Coil Roofing Nailer $179.99 15 Degree 1-3/4-in Coil Roofing Nailer - RN175-RT