How To Staple Down Engineered Flooring

I get that many flooring contractors can save time and money by stapling vs the added cost of a good adhesive and time to trowel then tape the planks.

How to staple down engineered flooring.

Do you recommend a floating floor or do you think a glue nail down method is better. Use a pneumatic flooring stapler to drive staples through the groove at a 45 degree angle image 1. Continue to install the flooring making sure to nail staple 1 2 from the ends and every 3 4 thereafter. With a nail down engineered hardwood floor follow the same subfloor preparation steps as above including underlayment and laying spacers around the room s perimeter to maintain the manufacturer s recommended expansion gap.

Cut openings in the felt with a utility knife each time you encounter a vent or outlet. This helps to prevent movement of the wood and keeps each of the planks flat with their neighbor. This installation method is identical to staple down only the fastener and fastening tool differ. For a medium sized room with two people working engineered hardwood floors can be laid in a day.

Tongue and groove milling is highly versatile allowing the floors to be stapled or nailed down glued and sometimes floated. Trim felt to within 1 2 inch of walls. 1st is glue vs staples for a 3 8 thick engineered oak plank in 3 width which is going on a 2nd floor plywood subfloor. So the big advantage of a floating floor is that a diy installation is really easy.

Step 5 set the starter course. After the floor is covered use a hammer to tap any poorly set staples down flush. When installing engineered wood planks or strips by nailing or stapling it is necessary to use the proper type of flooring stapler or nailer made for the thickness of the engineered wood flooring that is being installed. Put a staple every 6 to 8 inches.

My larger 500 sq ft basement took about a day and half with two people. If you are having trouble getting the planks to slide together easily use a rubber mallet to force them together image 2. Tongue and groove flooring staple nail down. If possible this is the ideal installation method.