Do you nail into the tongue or groove?

Do you nail into 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.

Can you nail hardwood through the groove?

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 do you attach tongue and groove?

Secure the first row by nailing into the tongue to the joist, (or furring strip) and secure the groove side of the plank by face nailing into the joist. Insert the nails into the tongue at an angle and use enough force to have the nail flush with the surface of the tongue.

Should you 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.

Should you nail down hardwood floors?

Solid hardwood floors must be fixed into position by either gluing or nailing down to the subfloor. However, if you are planning on fitting your hardwood floor to joists, then you will need to secret nail them into place.

How do you nail down the first row of hardwood floors?

Nail Down the First Row of Flooring Position your first board so its edge is up against the chalk line. Then, use a nail gun to secure it in place. Continue laying and nailing boards parallel to the starting line until your first row is finished. We recommend using 2-inch flooring cleats or 2-inch staples.

What kind of nailer do you use for hardwood floors?

pneumatic flooring nailer
One of the best nailers to use to install a hardwood floor is a pneumatic flooring nailer or stapler. Made specifically to fit over the top edge of the plank and the tongue, this nailer shoots a headless nail through the tongue and into the subfloor or the floor joist beneath.

Do you nail down hardwood floors?

Solid hardwood floors must be fixed into position by either gluing or nailing down to the subfloor. 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.

Does tongue and groove flooring have to be nailed down?

Although tongue and groove solid hardwood flooring does fit together, it must still be nailed to a subfloor. Engineered tongue and groove planks, however, snap together to create a “floating” floor that is not physically attached to the floor below.

Is nailing down hardwood floors a good idea?

Nailing down your hardwood floors has a few pros including its considered the most cost effective method as well the fastest. One other pro of nailing down hardwood floors is that if one floorboard gets damaged, it can be easily replaced without affecting the beauty of your floors.

What is the difference between glue down and nail down flooring?

The glue down method means that the flooring is glued directly to your subfloor. The nail down method means that the flooring planks are nailed to your wood subfloor. While both of these methods get the job done, you need to read up on the details behind each option before you proceed. Let’s discuss the pros and cons before you install.

How do you blind nail down hardwood flooring?

Nail Down. The process involves nailing the flooring directly to a wood subfloor. Typically, the flooring is “blind nailed” through the tongue (a portion of the wood plank that protrudes from the board and fits into the groove of the adjacent board). With this method, the nails are nearly invisible after installation.

What is the best way to install hardwood flooring?

Nail Down. Nailing down hardwood floors is the most common installation method, especially for solid flooring. The process involves nailing the flooring directly to a wood subfloor. Typically, the flooring is “blind nailed” through the tongue (a portion of the wood plank that protrudes from the board and fits into the groove of the adjacent board).