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Best Tools for Solid Hardwood Flooring Installation
What tools do I need, installing solid ¾" thick Domestic and Exotic Hardwoods?
Hand Tools
Hand tools are as the name suggests non-powered. They include anything from hammers to squares.
The greatest hazard posed by hand tools results from misuse and improper maintenance. Appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn due to hazards that may be encountered while using hand tools.
Common hand tools used in the wood flooring industry include:
• Moisture meters
• Thermo-hygrometers
• Batteries
• Tape measures
• Chalk line
• Pencil/pen
• Squares & straight edges
• Laser level/string-line
• Utility knife
• Pry bar
• Wall-jacks
• Straps and clamps
• Chisels
• Nail sets
• Hammer/flooring mallets
• Nail pullers
• Screw drivers
• Trammel points
• Scrapers & files
• Surfacing block plane
• Trowels
• Extension cords
• Tapping blocks
• Pliers and wrenches
Power Tools
There are several types of power tools, based on the power source they use. A power tool is a tool powered by electricity, battery, compressed air, or fuel. Power tools also are classified as either portable or stationary.
Appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn due to hazards that may be encountered while using power tools. Take the time to understand the working and proper use of your power tools and \understand the potential hazards and the safety precautions of each tool. The following are some of the more common power tools used in the wood flooring industry.
Miter Saw
A miter saw sits on a fixed base, with a blade mounted to an arm that can be pivoted from 0 degrees to -45 or +45 degrees.As the name suggests, these saws cut through the work piece at a set miter angle. They are most often used for crosscutting, mitering, or beveling wood.
Table Saw
The table saw consists of a circular saw blade, mounted on an arbor that is driven by an electric motor (directly, by belt, or by gears). The blade protrudes upward through the surface of a table, which provides support for the material being cut. They are commonly used for crosscutting, ripping, and other straight cuts, as well as for dadoing and molding.
Jamb Saw
Used to cut door jambs. Used to cut door jambs, baseboards and toe kicks to facilitate installation of flooring.
Pneumatic Tools
Powered by compressed air.
Air Compressor
Air compressors are tools that convert power into stored energy in the form of compressed air.
There are a few different kinds of Pneumatic Nailers available (note: electric versions are also available).
Finish Nailers are used to drive 14g – 16g nails up to 2.5” in length.
Brad Nailers are used to drive 18g brads up to 2” in length. Pin Nailers are the smallest nailers often 23g up to 2” in length.
Floor Nailers
Used for driving floor nails or staples into flooring common at 16g or 18g. These Mallet-Actuated Nailers are capable of driving staples or flooring cleats/nails into the tongue of a piece of wood flooring. Each model has different capabilities and magazine cartridges for use with specifically designated fasteners.
There is no one nailer that will nail all wood floorings.
*Because of the harness of some wood species, some tongue fracture during installation is inevitable, and should not be considered a defect.
There are a few steps that can be taken to minimize tongue fracture and squeaks.
If using a compressor, 1st try adjusting or regulating the compressor air-flow outlet. Check for an incorrect or too narrow of air hose, this can effect proper air flow to the nailer.
With exotic wood, staples tend to snap or split the tongue across the crown of the staple, the negative action of the drive bar as it delivers the staple is similar to the action of a ½" wood chisel.
Try using a cleat nailer instead of a stapler, Cleat nails tend to pierce the tongue cleaner and neater.
Also you could try adjusting the angle of nail entry by a buildup of duct tape, either the bottom front or bottom back of the nailer foot plate, this should do the trick.
The harder and stronger the wood is, especially with the exotics, you may have to hand nail each piece. One person can pre-drill the nail holes, the next can complete the nailing. For boards 2 -1/4"-3 1/2" wide, 3/4" thick, place a 2" nail, every 8"-10"along the side tongue edge and 1"-3" from the board ends. The wider the board the closer the nail spacing.
Above covers just a small sampling of tools that you may need. Below is a more complete list.
Power tools
Dust collection systems
Band saw
Plunge Saw
Oscillating tool (multi tool)
Reciprocating Saw (Sawzall)
Miter-chop saw
Table saw
Jig saw (sabre saw)
Router
Air compressor
Jamb or Tenon saw
Hardwood floor nailer specific to wood type (manual or pneumatic)
Correct size fasteners
Appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn due to hazards that may be encountered while using power tools.
Be sure you follow the manufacturer instructions for the proper use of all tools and understand the potential hazards and the safety precautions of each tool.
LL Flooring Technical & Install