How do you nail the last row of hardwood floors?

The first and last rows of flooring have to be nailed through the face of the boards. All the other boards are nailed through the tongue only. To prevent splitting face-nailed boards, drill 1/16-inch diameter holes for the nails, 1 inch from the grooved edge.

Considering this, how do you nail the first row of hardwood floors?

Begin by selecting a long board to start the first row. Pick one that is straight. Align the edge of the board with the chalk line and drill pilot holes down through the hardwood plank and into the sub-floor and joist. Face-nail each board at the point of every joist and set the nail with a nail-set.

Subsequently, question is, what side of wood floor do you nail? Before you start nailing, make sure your nailer is adjusted to a sample of your flooring. You should fire a test nail to ensure the nail sets correctly into the nail pocket. Begin your nailing from the left side of the room and always do your nailing from left to right across the floor.

Similarly one may ask, how far apart should I nail hardwood flooring?

Essentially, the nail pattern for installation is the spacing between nails. The width of the hardwood flooring strips that you are installing will determine whether you must put nails anywhere from four inches apart and up to ten inches apart.

How do you install hardwood floors in a hallway?

If you want your room to feel smaller and warmer, lay your wood flooring from side wall to a side wall. Whenever you are placing wood flooring in a hallway or any long and narrow area, it should run in the direction away from the doorway.

36 Related Question Answers Found

What direction do I lay hardwood flooring?

The most common way to lay/install hardwood flooring is by aligning the planks parallel to the longest wall or run in the installation. Apart from a few exceptions like sagging joists, this is the preferred direction to lay wood floors because it provides the best result aesthetically.

Can you use a brad nailer for hardwood floors?

Like most of the newer floor products, you can install it floatin without glue or nails, glued down or nailed into place on plywood and other wood product subfloors. A flooring nailer is the preferred method for attaching flooring, but a brad nailer, used correctly, runs a close second.

Can you hand nail hardwood flooring?

While it is possible to hand-nail hardwood boards, it isn't advisable for three reasons. The first is that it is much more time-consuming. The second is that the boards won't wedge together as tightly as they do if you use a nailer or air gun, and the finished floor may show gaps between the boards.

How do you make splines for hardwood floors?

Crossgrain Splines

The easiest way to make a hardwood spline is to simply rip a thin strip from a board.
The best way to make a hardwood spline is shown in the drawings at right.
Since the grain of the spline is running across the joint, there's no chance of the spline splitting and the joint tailing.

Should wood floors be horizontal or vertical?

Vertical flooring is the most common orientation for wood floors. If the room is not overly small, floorboards that are placed vertically will work just fine. If the room is wider than it is long, laying the flooring on the vertical will help create the illusion of length in the room and balance it out.

How long should flooring nails be?

A good rule of thumb for nail length is 1 1/2-inch nails for 1/2-inch-thick flooring, and 1 3/4-inch nails for 3/4-inch-thick flooring -- but always follow the flooring manufacturer's recommendation.

How much does it cost to install 1000 square feet of hardwood floors?

The average cost to install hardwood floors on 1,000 sq. feet is between $6,115 and $10,140 with most homeowners spending about $8,127 for materials and professional labor.

What do you put under hardwood flooring?

Several intermediate layers that are sometimes directly installed between subflooring and solid hardwood flooring include:

Red Rosin Paper or Builder's Felt.
Solid Underlayment.
Rubberized Membrane.
Thick Underlayment With Intervening Plywood.
Choosing Denser Hardwoods.
Using Area Rugs and Runners.

Do you nail the tongue or groove?

For tongue-and-groove flooring, drive a nail at a 45-degree angle through the tongue, then conceal it by engaging the groove of the next board. Be sure to countersink the nail – drive it slightly below the surface of the wood – to prevent interference in the joint.

How do you install hardwood flooring over concrete?

Lay 6-mil polyethylene sheeting over the concrete to minimize moisture migration from the concrete up into the wood flooring. Then fasten 3/4-in. treated plywood to the concrete with concrete screws spaced every 16 in. Alternatively, screw rows of treated 1x4s to the concrete 16 in.

How do you find the straight line when installing hardwood floors?

A chalk line helps to make a straight edge that you can align your planks against for even, precise flooring.

Pry off with a prybar any baseboard or molding from the longest wall in the room that runs perpendicular to the floor joists.
Measure 12 inches in from one end of the wall.

Is it better to staple or nail hardwood flooring?

Nails allow for a more natural expansion and contraction of the hardwood floorboards with fewer problems. Because stapled floorboards are fastened tighter; the hardwoods may be more prone to cracking in response to changes in moisture because they cannot contract or expand as well as nailed floorboards.

What size nails should be used for 3/4 inch hardwood flooring?

Use 2" long cleat nails when installing 3/4" solid wood flooring over a wood subfloor with floor joists. Or when installing 3/4" flooring over two layers of 1/2" plywood over a concrete slab.

Should I glue or nail hardwood floor?

Engineered hardwood floors can be glued or nailed into position, but they also have the option of being floated over an underlay. If you have a concrete subfloor, then you should glue your hardwood down, if you have a wooden subfloor then you can choose either method of installation.

Can I use roofing felt under hardwood flooring?

Felt paper is installed under hardwood flooring to provide an extra layer of moisture protection and also to dampen sound. You will need to install it under your wood floors if a padding is not already attached to the hardwood planks. Many models of hardwood planks have dampening foam already attached.

Does the tongue or groove go against the wall?

Which side is the tongue, which the groove, and which goes first during installation? The tongue is the side that you will want to place against the wall as you start your laminate-flooring installation.

Which side do you nail hardwood flooring?

Begin your nailing from the left side of the room and always do your nailing from left to right across the floor. Use a rubber mallet to tap the boards tightly into place. To nail your flooring, strike the plunger at the top of the nailer with the rubber mallet.