Laying Oak Flooring.

westies2803 · Post by **westies2803** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:12 pm

Hi Guys,

I'm going to start laying 120x18 oak flooring and was wondering what is the best way to nail the boards? someone has said that I could hire a nail gun........ could someone confirm & give me details if this is the way to go.

Cheers.
Westies2803

panlid · Post by **panlid** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:33 pm

hi westie, are they going into joists?

if so try hiring a power nailer. http://www.birbek.co.uk/mall/productpag ... POWN/70041

most tool hire places hire them and you buy the nails off them.
remember that you are only doing this once. dont be tempted to use something like a dewalt brad nailer. doesnt matter if you use 55mm brads the heads are too small.
the other thing to remember as well is that oak is quite hard and it is hard to get nails in, you may have to drill pilot holes before you put in each nail. the power nailer means you dont have to do this. you just give it a good smack with the hammer a couple of tiles and a proper nail is in. i have used one a couple of times and the floors are still solid years later.

Gadget · Post by **Gadget** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:45 pm

Just thought I'd stick my neb in here!.......I'm laying some bamboo flooring in a few weeks time, and its straight on to concrete (levels sorted etc, etc). Whats the best adhesive to use, and any advice/tips will be appreciated?

westies2803 · Post by **westies2803** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:00 am

Cheers Panlid,

I'll be nailing the boards onto the existing chipboard flooring, does this change things ?

Westies2803

panlid · Post by **panlid** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:00 am

gadget all the adhesives for timber flooring tend to be ok for all types of wood, urethane based products being better than water based products.

howdens do a glue as does most flooring outlets

Gadget · Post by **Gadget** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:14 pm

Cheers!

panlid · Post by **panlid** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:12 pm

westies2803 wrote:Cheers Panlid,

I'll be nailing the boards onto the existing chipboard flooring, does this change things ?

Westies2803

only in so much as the nails you get will go right through the flooring below. im thinking of cables and pipes. you could do with chalk lining the joists to make sure you get a good fix. but i would still be worried about pipes and cables. if you are planning to secret nail which i presume you are then to not go through would mean nails no bigger than 30mm. i dont think they do nails this small for these nailers.
have you thought about getting an engineered oak floor that is more stable. these glue together and just float on an underlay.

http://www.sidstewartjoinery.co.uk/joinery_photo4.htm