Recommended Size for Flooring Staples / Nails
by Jeff Hosking – Hosking Hardwood Flooring
© 2004 - 2012, Copyright protected. All Rights Reserved
Most manufacturers allow the use of either flooring nails or staples for installation of wood flooring, but you should always refer to the manufacturer's instructions for proper nail/staple size for a specific solid or engineered wood floor. We recommend nailing or stapling every 6-8 inches along the tongue of every board and staying in approximately 4 inches from each end of the floorboard. As a rule of thumb, the recommended sizes below apply.
Cleat Nails
LFN-50 HighPro Pneumatic Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer
SHF15 Senco Manual Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer
Use 1-1/2" long cleat nails when installing thinner 1/2" thick wood flooring.
Use 1-3/4" long cleat nails when installing 3/4" solid wood flooring, when 3/4" thick plywood is applied directly
over a concrete slab—so the cleat nail does not go through the 3/4" thick plywood, hitting the concrete.
Use 2" long cleat nails when installing 3/4"
solid wood flooring over a wood subfloor with floor joists. Or when installing 3/4" flooring over
two layers of 1/2" plywood over a concrete slab.
Staples
High Pro FS-50 Pneumatic Flooring Stapler
Use 18 GA 1-1/2" long staples when installing thinner 1/2" thick solid wood floors (per manufacturer's recommendation).
Use 15 GA 1-3/4" long staples when installing 3/4" solid wood flooring, when 3/4" plywood is applied directly over a concrete slab—so that the staple does not go through the 3/4" plywood, hitting the concrete.
Use 15 GA 2" long staples when installing 3/4" solid wood flooring over a wood subfloor with floor joists, or when installing 3/4" flooring over two layers of 1/2" plywood over a concrete slab.
For Engineered Flooring and Thinner Solid Wood Flooring
AS 4590T HighPro Pneumatic Flooring Stapler
Use 1" to 1-1/4" long staples for thinner 1/4" to 5/16" thick floors.
Use 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" long staples for 3/8" to 1/2" thick floors.
Use 1-1/2" long staples for 5/8" thick floors.
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What Size Flooring Staples / Nails to Use
by
Jeff Hosking
Overall Rating:
4.7 stars -
68 reviews
By: Joe
Date:
November 23, 2023
Page Rating:
(
5.0/
5)
Comments:
What type if staole should be used for 3/8 engineered?
By: Derrell
Date:
February 28, 2023
Page Rating:
(
4.5/
5)
Comments:
When face nailing 5/16 thick Oak floorboards. What size nail should be used? 16 gauge or 18 gauge finish now. And should you nail on an angle because of the nail shank being smooth. What are your suggestions
Reply by HoskingHardwood : 16 gauge is what we use when face nailing 1-1/2 long for 5/16 flooring. 18 gauge can work but 16 gauge is a thicker nail.
By: MARK
Date:
January 12, 2023
Page Rating:
(
5.0/
5)
Comments:
AWESOME HELP
By: Lynn
Date:
April 26, 2022
Page Rating:
(
4.0/
5)
Comments:
Helpful comments. However it doesnt address the situation where 3/4" hardwood flooring is stapled over a 5/8" sub-floor. Under the sub-floor is in-floor radiant heat tubing between the floor joists. The location of the tubing in relation to the sub-floor is unknown. What length staples should be used?
By: Lynn
Date:
April 26, 2022
Page Rating:
(
4.0/
5)
Comments:
Helpful comments. However it doesnt address the situation where 3/4" hardwood flooring is stapled over a 5/8" sub-floor. Under the sub-floor is in-floor radiant heat tubing between the floor joists. The location of the tubing in relation to the sub-floor is unknown. What length staples should be used?
By: John Watson
Date:
December 14, 2021
Page Rating:
(
5.0/
5)
Comments:
Jeff you are the hardwood master! Its an honor working with you!
Reply by HoskingHardwood : HA! Hi John and you are our best installer ! If you cant fix something no one can.....
By: woody
Date:
October 24, 2021
Page Rating:
(
5.0/
5)
Comments:
good advice, thank you
By: Charlie
Date:
August 26, 2020
Page Rating:
(
5.0/
5)
Comments:
I am a beginner. This is the best article I found to educate me on the gauges of floor staples and nails.
By: rickbrad
Date:
February 23, 2020
Page Rating:
(
2.0/
5)
Comments:
My question is 16 or 18 gauge cleats. The article talks about length, but is not helpful concerning what gauge nails are better for 3/4" solid oak flooring.
By: geoffrey s king
Date:
January 19, 2020
Page Rating:
(
5.0/
5)
Comments:
very helpful
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