Can I use a finish stapler to install engineered hardwood floors?
Saturday, November 27th, 2010 at
2:45 am
I am installing about 1000sf of engineered hardwood flooring, and I would like to use the Bostitch SB-150SX finish stapler that I already own to fasten the flooring. Has anyone attempted using a finish stapler (as opposed to a flooring stapler) to install flooring? Am I making a mistake?
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US $3.49
Finish staplers and nailers are more used for smaller jobs but can be used for any job. You might have to adjust the pressure and depth due to the flooring being an engineered hardwood.
Do not skimp on nailing down hardwood floors. They are squeeky when you walk on them
It is best to use a flooring stapler. Bostich makes a stapler that is especially for installing engineered wood. Use the finish nailer would probably it hard for the rows to go together.
Yes, you would be making a huge mistake for many reasons.
First, the stapler will not have enough holding power. Best case means you will have squeaks throughout the floor, worst case you will have flooring that buckles (starts coming up off of the sub floor).
Second, you will go through an amazing amount of staples to make sure the flooring is nailed down well to negate what I just formally wrote.
Third, a thousand square feet of flooring with you crawling around on your hands and knees will take you weeks. Maybe not weeks but a seriously long time.
If you live in a city you can rent a flooring gun from Home Depot. A box of staples will do your entire floor and will cost around $50. If you can’t rent one locally you can order one from a website called http://www.harborfreight.com The tools that they sell are not going to last for decades like a high quality tool will, but, if you are only doing one floor it will last just fine. Even if you have to buy a flooring gun and staples for it, the amount of time you save will be worth the couple hundred dollars. Not to mention the wear and tear on your body. You can buy either mechanical flooring guns or pneumatic. Mechanical guns are harder to use since the force you hit the gun with determines how hard the nail gets nailed into the flooring and subfloor. The benefit is that you dont need a compressor or hose. The pneumatic guns are much easier to use. It is driven by air pressure so if you hit the gun normally it will hit the nail in fine. The drawback is if you dont already have a compressor.
Yes you can, depending on the thickness. 1/2″ thickness max. 1 1/2″ long, 3/16 crown staple every 4 to 6 inches and no more than 2 inches from the end. I have two of these staplers and have laid 1000’s of sq. ft. without a problem. Lay the flooring pependicular to the floor joists and you should be fine.