T Nails Vs L Nails Flooring

Solid wood flooring installations.

T nails vs l nails flooring. The recommended gauges don t refer to standard construction nails but to cleat nails designed specifically for use on hardwood flooring. Because each staple grips the wood with two prongs staples provide a tighter initial grip than cleat nails. Or 18 ga but thinner 20 ga. Nails are available for installing engineered flooring.

Nails allow for a more natural expansion and contraction of the hardwood floorboards with fewer problems. These nails are made of high strength carbon steel. You can get either a stapler or a nailer. The porta nails 16 gauge l head flooring the porta nails 16 gauge l head flooring cleat and nail is designed for flooring decorative paneling ceiling and sub flooring applications.

That will automatically give you nails every 8. Cleat nails are typically installed with an automatic. Manual floor fasteners always use cleat nails but pneumatic models come with two options. Pros and cons of using cleats for hardwood floor installation.

Diy enthusiasts want to know which choice is best in the cleats vs staples argument. However according to the certified flooring inspectors we spoke to there are flooring manufacturers that no longer warrant engineered flooring installations when the flooring is fastened with staples instead of l cleats or t cleats. Most cleat nails are 16 ga. The big drawback with cleat nails is their cost which at 65 to 85 per 5000 is about twice the price of staples.

You have to choose between models that use either l cleats or t cleats. So if you want a pneumatic nailer you have one more decision to make. The 16 gauge nail is perfect for 1 2 in. The reason for the smooth area at the top of the shank is to allow for the hardwood floor to expand and contract with seasonal temperature and humidity changes.

If you are crossing the joists with the hardwood see if you can nail on the joist beneath the subfloor and between the joists. Nails and staples differ in their holding properties. They strongly recommended installing hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring with l cleats or t cleats. Hardwood flooring installers have used cleats for generations nailing 3 4 solid hardwood planks to a wooden subfloor with 2 nails formed with an l shaped head.

A staple will give a stronger less forgiving hold because of its two pronged construction. Be sure to nail every 6 8 into the hardwood.