Nail Size For Wood Flooring

Today this terminology corresponds with a nail s measurement from the head to the tip of the.

Nail size for wood flooring. For example if 100 nails cost four pence the nail size was termed four penny nails. An additional 5 flooring must be added to the actual square footage needed when purchasing to allow for cutting and grading. It is recommended that the flooring be installed at a 90 degree angle to the joists for wood subfloors. Most manufacturers allow the use of either flooring nails or staples but you should always refer to the manufacturer s instructions for proper nail staple size for a particular floor.

Drywall has its own nail. The last few rows will need to be fastened by hand. So when attaching plywood sheets to joists any nail size works as long as the nail is not longer than the 6 inch joist below. Bigger isn t always better.

To fasten the final planks into place you must either manually blind nail and or face nail through the surface on the final planks. The nail guns used today for installing hardwood flooring are made to seat the nail just above the tongue and countersink it at approximately a 45 degree angle so the next board engages fully. Some nails have very wide heads to hold soft materials in place such as styrofoam boards or very small heads so that they can be set below the surface of the wood and hidden with a filler such as finishing nails. The higher the gauge number the thinner the nail.

To allow room for the 45 degree angle the nail gun must set out in front of the actual board that is being nailed. We recommend nailing or stapling every 6 8 inches along the tongue of every board staying in approx 4 inches from each end of the floorboard. Inch wood floor finished wood flooring planks such as hardwood and laminate flooring install over a plywood subfloor surface. 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.

Nail sizes have a specific classification that originated in england. Nails sizes were originally named for how much it would cost to buy 100 of a given size. Drill pilot holes at a 45 degree angle to the floor and blind nail using l finishing nails. Plan out the installation determining an appropriate color match of boards before you nail down hardwood.