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View Full Version : 1.5" or 2" nails for hardwood install? Or staples?



1320ms
02-18-2010, 02:58 PM
Installing 3/4" solid wood hardwood flooring over 1/8" DreamHome insulayment onto 23/32nd OSB subfloor

My guy at the flooring company tells me for solid wood to use nails, he wasnt sure what size though

Reading online other people say staples have a stronger hold

If I nail it, I've gotta choose between 1.5" or 2" nails, from reading I understand that I dont want the nail to penetrate all the way through the subfloor, so I'm thinking a 1.5" nail would be best, but then lumber liquidators (where I bought the underlayment) is telling me to use a 2" nail

Does it even matter? Seems everyone has their own opinion on nailing vs stapling, but if I do go nails, 1.5" or 2" which will be better?

jimbo
02-18-2010, 07:38 PM
Is this a nail straight in, or throught the tonque at a 45? I think I used 1 5/8" nails on my oak tonque and groove, and as I recall, 1 3/4 or 2" was considered "standard" but my floor is 3/4 oak on 3/4 plywood on lightweight concrete, so I REALLY did not want the nail to penetrate the subfloor. This floor has been down now since 1990, and looks great, so thost nails did the trick.

1320ms
02-19-2010, 07:10 AM
Through the tongue at 45, again, figuring out if I'm going to staple or nail, so I'll either be using a bostitch MIIIFN or MIIIFS

jimbo
02-19-2010, 07:34 AM
A 1½ nail on a 45 has a total depth of approx. 1" vertically down from the head. Figure 1/8 for the foam, 3/8 for half the thickness of the hardwood, that only gives you 1/2" into the subfloor. A 1 5/8 or 1 3/4 long nail or staple will still not penetrate and will give you that much extra length of grip.

gluecan
02-21-2010, 03:43 PM
use 2 inch i do and have for 30 years staples are better in most wood flooring

1320ms
02-22-2010, 11:45 AM
So then, nails or staples?

bmb2m9
02-28-2010, 02:45 PM
So then, nails or staples?

I use 2 inch nails, but I am sure that staples would work great too. Just be sure to use 2 inch whatever unless you have rare circumstances like Jimbo.