Installing Face Nailed Hardwood Flooring

When you hear the word face nailed applied to flooring you automatically know it refers to solid wood flooring a woodlike product or even engineered wood products.

Installing face nailed hardwood flooring. Engineered flooring can be installed above grade at grade and below grade level do not install hardwood flooring in bathrooms. Option 2 face nail using electric brand nail gun or finish nail gun the first few rows of boards you install. Face nailing is the common practice used to nail the first few rows of boards in place because it is difficult to maneuver hardwood floor nail guns close to the wall. The humble nail has a long history of craftsmanship behind every bag or box.

Flooring nails have special qualities that make them suitable for the job. Align the edge of the board with the chalk line and drill pilot holes down through the hardwood plank and into the sub floor and joist. The type of installation you choose will depend on your subfloor budget lifestyle and the type of wood flooring you select. Nearly all hardwood flooring today is tongue and groove because it solves the pesky problems such as shrinking warping and working loose commonly experienced by face nailing planks to floor.

Face nail the entire first row and remember to keep the board lengths random. For instance solid hardwood flooring is typically nailed down during installation while tongue and groove engineered flooring is usually clicked together or completely glued down. Solid hardwood flooring only can be installed on or above ground level with a plywood subfloor. When completed both blind nailing and top screws and plugs hide the fasteners from view.

Face nailing leaves the fasteners visible on the finished floor this is seen in older rustic homes and can be used to accent a period floor. Face nail each board at the point of every joist and set the nail with a nail set. Option 1 face nail using finish nails then angle nail the first few rows of boards you install. Pick one that is straight.

The proper way to face nail is to countersink the nails with a nail punch and fill the remaining hole with coordinating wood putty. Wide plank flooring can also be blind nailed and face nailed or faced screwed and plugs.