What size finish nails should I use for hardwood flooring?
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As for wood flooring fasteners, you’ll use nails or staples. Staples are generally a cheaper choice of fastener, but 16-, 18-, or 20-gauge flooring nails or “cleats” are the choice of pros. They allow for wood flooring expansion and contraction, also providing great holding power.
What kind of nailer do you use for hardwood floors?
One of the best nailers to use to install a hardwood floor is a pneumatic flooring nailer or stapler. Made specifically to fit over the top edge of the plank and the tongue, this nailer shoots a headless nail through the tongue and into the subfloor or the floor joist beneath.

What is the best finish nailer for hardwood floors?
Best Finishing Nailer For Durability
- NuMax Pneumatic Nailer.
- Metabo HPT Finish Nailer.
- Ryobi Finish Nailer.
- DEWALT XR Finish Nailer.
- Valu-Air Gauge.
Can You Use finishing nails for hardwood floors?
Finishing Nails for Flooring Finishing nails are slender with a minimal head, which is ideal for countersinking. The 8D or 8-penny size finishing nail is common for the job of flooring. Predrilling nail holes avoids split boards.

Can I use a 16 gauge nailer for flooring?
While the 15-gauge guns do usually fire like a cannon, a 16-gauge still recesses the nail heads 1/16- or 1/32-inch through hardwood, which is entirely adequate for a floor installation.
Can I use a brad nailer to install hardwood flooring?
Things You’ll Need Like most of the newer floor products, you can install it floatin without glue or nails, glued down or nailed into place on plywood and other wood product subfloors. A flooring nailer is the preferred method for attaching flooring, but a brad nailer, used correctly, runs a close second.
Can I use a 16-gauge nailer for flooring?
What is the difference between a straight and angled nail gun?
The difference between a straight and angled nailer is the shape of the nail magazines. A straight nailer has a magazine that is parallel to the surface you are nailing. With an angled nailer, the magazine comes up at an angle from the head of the nailer.
Can you use Brad nailer for hardwood?
A brad nailer is one way to install engineered hardwood. Engineered hardwood is a solid wood floor product that is manufactured from thin layers of hardwood laminated together to provide planks with good durability and incredible dimensional consistency.