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Do you need underlayment for nail down hardwood?
With a staple down or nail down installation over a wood subfloor using solid flooring or engineered flooring, it is recommended that an underlayment of 15lb. black felt paper is rolled out over the wood subfloor prior to installing the new floor.
Does Hardwood flooring get nailed down?
Solid hardwood floors are typically nailed down to a wooden subfloor on or above grade. Engineered hardwood products may be fastened, stapled, or glued on, above, or below grade. The glue-down method is commonly used in slab construction because it allows the flooring to be attached directly to a concrete slab.
Which side of hardwood flooring do you nail?
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.
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.
Do you staple down underlayment?
There is no fastening the underlayment to the subfloor. If your choose this route, staples are a good choice to fasten the underlayment. Staples usually have a coating which help increase the holding power. Using a crown compression stapler, staple 2 inches on the seams and edges with 4-6 inches apart in the middle.
What happens if you dont use underlayment?
If the subfloor in your home or property is uneven, then your laminate floor could move and shift if it doesn’t have an underlayment for support. As a result, the floor will be more prone to wear-and-tear and could even warp. The more stability, the less likely you’ll have to pay out of pocket for costly repairs.
What is the recommended underlayment for hardwood flooring?
What Underlayment is Best for Wood? When installing hardwood or engineered wood flooring, the best underlay options are cork and foam. However, foam does have more give than cork so, while it is the more popular option, we recommend cork. Cork has less give, making it less likely to flex underneath your planks.
Can nail down hardwood be glued?
You can either nail or glue hardwood floor planks. Homes with a concrete subfloor should glue down hardwood floor, while a wooden subfloor allows for either option. Subfloor prep is especially critical for gluing hardwood floors.
Should you nail and glue hardwood floors?
We recommend and encourage a glue assist for all nailed down floors, especially if you are nailing down a thin floor, a solid or engineered floor that is 5” or wider, or one installed in an environment with moisture swings. These types of floors are more likely to have problems with squeaks.
Can you use Liquid Nails for hardwood floors?
Apply a 1/4 –inch continuous line (bead) of construction adhesive such as LIQUID NAILS® Subfloor and Deck Construction Adhesive (LN-902) along joists before laying your chosen flooring. When laying hard floors, you will need to apply the adhesive as you work across the floor, one board at a time.
Do you need to glue tongue and groove flooring?
The recommended glue for floating installation is Tongue and Groove engineered flooring glue. Glue placement is very important. The glue must be placed along the topside of the groove the full length of the grooved side and end.
Can you nail hardwood floor on the groove side?
To nail the groove, you must nail by hand, but you have a very small space in which to work. In addition, you must countersink every nail to avoid interfering with the tongue of the next plank. For most applications, this isn’t feasible or desirable.
How tight should tongue and groove be?
All it takes is 1⁄8″. The joint should be a firm press fit: If you have to knock the pieces together, then struggle to pull them apart, the joint’s too tight. A tongue that’s a hair too fat for the groove may actually seat, but it will stress the groove sidewalls and may, in time, prompt them to split.
Can you install tongue and groove backwards?
Vinyl plank flooring was designed to install in one direction but it is still possible to install it backward. When doing so, you either have to modify the tongue and groove or be prepared to work slowly and perhaps have some waste.
Is it best to screw or nail floorboards?
If you want to have access to wiring and pipework through your floor, screws again are the way to go. Another great advantage is the fact that screws will pull the boards down better than any nails and hold without popping out. The tighter grip they provide makes screws the superior long term solution.
Can you use screws to install hardwood floors?
Screws are also preferable when installing subfloors, because they are less likely to loosen and pull out. Nails are the fastener of choice when laying down hardwood floorboards because they’re not as likely to split the wood as screws and don’t mar the surface with screw heads.
Can you screw down underlayment?
You can also fasten underlayment with galvanized or coated screws or nails. Do not use standard, uncoated fasteners because they are prone to rust, which can discolor some types of flooring.
What is the difference between subfloor and underlayment?
The subfloor is the bottom most structure of the floor. It provides a flat and stable surface and supports the actual floor. Underlayment is different from the subfloor in that it rests between the subfloor and the actual floor.
What type of flooring does not need underlayment?
However, you’ll want to use one in every other application including covering existing hardwood floors, vinyl flooring that isn’t cushioned, and concrete floors. You also do not need an underlayment if your vinyl plank flooring has underlayment installed, however, you may need a vapor barrier.
Do you need a moisture barrier on wood subfloor?
Wood Subfloors Sometimes, a moisture barrier is not recommended. If you’re installing your hardwood floors over a wood subfloor, you should avoid using a moisture barrier. Over time, moisture can get trapped between the moisture barrier protecting your hardwood flooring and the wood subfloor.
