Recommended Size for Nails and Staples
Most manufacturers allow the use of either nails or staples, but you should always refer to the manufacturer's instructions for proper nail/staple size for a particular floor. 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.
As a rule of thumb, the recommended sizes below apply.
Use 1-1/2 IN. long cleat nails when installing the thinner 1/2 IN. thick wood flooring.
Use 1-3/4 IN. long cleat nails when installing 3/4
IN. solid wood flooring, when 3/4 IN. thick plywood is applied directly
over a concrete slab --- so the cleat nail does not go through the 3/4
IN. thick plywood, hitting the concrete.
Use 2 IN. long cleat nails when installing 3/4 IN.
solid wood flooring over a wood subfloor with floor joists. The 2 IN.
long cleat nail can also be used when installing 3/4 IN. flooring over
two layers of 1/2 IN. plywood.
Use 1-1/2 IN. long staples when installing the thinner 1/2 IN. thick solid wood floors ["per manufacturer's recommendation"].
Use 1-3/4 IN. long staples when installing 3/4 IN. solid wood flooring, when 3/4 IN. plywood is applied directly over a concrete slab --- so that the staple does not go through the 3/4 IN. plywood, hitting the concrete.
Use 2 IN. long staples when installing 3/4 IN. solid wood flooring over a wood subfloor structure with floor joists, or also when installing 3/4 IN. flooring over two layers of 1/2 In plywood.
For Engineered Flooring and Thinner Solids ...
For the AS 4090 HighPro Pneumatic Flooring Stapler --- there are 3 different staple sizes available [1 IN., 1-1/4 IN., and 1-1/2 IN.]
- For thinner 1/4 IN. to 5/16 IN. thick floors, use 1 IN. to 1-1/4 IN. long staples.
- For 3/8 IN. to 1/2 IN. thick floors, use 1-1/4 IN. to 1-1/2 IN. long staples.
- For 5/8 IN. thick floors, use 1-1/2 IN. long staples.
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