Prior to the advent of compressed air staplers and nailers, the job of installing hardwood flooring was akin to strong man contest. Installing hundreds of feet of hardwood required a Herculean physique and the endurance of a long-distance runner. Since the early nineties the introduction of the adjustable compressed-air stapler and nailer has made life a whole lot easier on hardwood floor installers.
If you are thinking about installing your own hardwood floors then you need to research the job well in advance and take into consideration several important factors. This will determine not only which type of equipment you will need but even which kind of staple or nail you will use (and even the method of installation). Although we highly recommend hiring a professional installer (with references) to install larger, more expensive hardwood floor projects, we do understand that many people find the whole experience quite exciting and self-satisfying.
You've ordered your hardwood already (and accounted for some waste - we estimate about 7 to 8% extra flooring required for any project). Now the tough part begins: How are you going to complete the installation?
One very good idea is to visit your local Lowes or Home Depot and either speak to an experienced installer or to sit-in on a flooring installation seminar (that are usually offered for free by these big box retailers). Both will save you a lot of grief in completing your project.
One place where you won't find a lot of info on hardwood floor installation – believe it or not – is from the National Wood Flooring Association. The NWFA is a training and educating entity and recommends hiring a trained professional installer. This is of no help to you if you are truly set on making this a do-it-yourself project. However, we still recommend visiting the NWFA.org website prior to beginning your project – as they offer some very useful design tools and guides.
The tool that will be most critical to your project will be the type of stapler or nailer you use and the type of staples or nails that hold your floor in place. Why is the key?
Depending on the location of the country you live in (dry weather versus moist) your hardwood floor will be put through varying degrees of expansion and contraction. Choosing the wrong method of nailing or stapling could cause collateral damage to your flooring during both of these natural occurrences.
What's more, choosing the right equipment will also be critical in eliminating unwanted squeaking or popping sounds.
As you prepare for your hardwood floor project you should prepare a list of the items you will need expert help in choosing, and they are:
- Stapler or nailer (and the level of compression you should use when installing the floor)
- Type of staple or nail (and the method of installation).
- Subfloor (to ensure sufficient bite of the nails or staples)
- Type of mallet should also not be overlooked.