Best way to secure the hardwood flooring in the center of the house.
Hello everybody,
I keep on posting about my flooring project up and down and sideways but I truly need your help, LOL!
I decided to lay the planks centerline-out by using a spline upon the recommendations I received in an earlier post. After doing some measurements, I decided on a somewhat of an optimized location.
Please see the attached photo for some clarifying visuals.
Here is my next challenge. I don’t how I can secure the starting row to the floor.
* I can not use construction glue because there is underlayment.
* Brad nails are not working, they are not providing enough downward grip. The test plank I secured is squeaking already.
Screwing it down seems to be a solution but in that case, I need to fill in the screw heads with wood putty and I am worried that they will be esthetically displeasing.
Is there another more elegant solution? What is your take on screwing them down as shown in the image?
Thanks!
Replies
You need to secure a 'straight' piece to the floor that the first row can abutt to. The 'straight' piece will prevent the first row from moving as you nail it. Install 3 or 4 rows before removing the 'straight' piece. After removing the 'straight' piece install a spline and you can install in the oposite direction too. Attach the 'straight' piece by face screwing it to the subfloor. The 'straight' piece can be anything that is straight and can be screwed....2 X 4, piece of your flooring, etc. The 'straight' piece is just temporary.
One more thought.....depending on your flooring nailer you might have to use a 'straight' piece that is the same thickness as the actual flooring so that the base of the flooring nailer will fit without being impeded by say a 2 X 4. I just use a sacrificial piece of the flooring that is fairly long and straight.
Ok, do us a favor and copy this post of yours and Jimiem’s post and move it over to your original post on your floor problem. Because your 1st post will get buried and this would make not much sense to new posters.
Or use Jimiem’s method, it will work.
But still move this one so future posters won’t wonder wtf.
Thanks.