In order to install a hardwood floor successfully and safely, a variety of tools are required, just like with any other type of trade. Selecting the proper tools to have available can be difficult.
But here’s a list to help you start.
Hardwood Flooring Tools for Installation
Safety Goggles
Eyewear intended for safety purposes must abide by the specifications laid out by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). There are many safety glasses to choose from. There is a huge selection of designs and colors available. Normal glasses or contact lenses do not qualify.
Goggles are a better choice for certain conditions. Masks are superior to both glasses and face shields when it comes to defending the eye socket since they form a strong seal around the face. If you need corrective eyewear and don’t wear contact lenses, consider purchasing goggles with your vision prescription. Having no vision is not a good idea in terms of safety.
Dust Masks and Vapor Respirators
A dust mask will guard your lungs and breathing passages from wood particles. Certain individuals can be extremely affected by wood dust, particularly the dust which originates from particular types of wood. Masks with a NIOSH N95 rating and “N95” printed on them are the most effective.
A vapor respirator is necessary when applying a finish. Consult the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) furnished by the finish maker to figure out which respirator is suitable.
Ear Plugs or Ear Muffs
Earplugs are easy to use and inexpensive. They come either as foam inserts or pre-molded plugs. If you’re worried about your earplugs slipping into your ears, try out semi-inserts – these have a string or band between them to keep them together.
Knee Pads
As a person working in the field of installing wooden floors, you can expect to have to get down on your knees on occasion; wearing knee pads will reduce the strain on your joints and stop any discomfort. Employ professionals to make pads out of cloth which can be tailored to size and fit comfortably. These particular items, with a gentle exterior, will not cause harm to floors in comparison to those made of metal or hard plastic. Knee pads with a fluid-filled cushion provide a great degree of comfort.
Work Safety Boots
The dangers to your feet are obvious. When you select a boot (athletic shoes are not acceptable), here are some features to consider:
Keep the treads tidy, or their ability to be slip-resistant will diminish.
Safety toe: You have some choices here. It is not a must that the shoes must be made of steel-toed material, since it can be weighty and chilly. Some strong safety toe choices include carbon composite, aluminum, and composite toe.
Heavy Gloves
Work gloves that are designed for heavy-duty use and feature strengthened fingertips should be durable and have a long lifespan. You may be able to get away with using a basic latex glove when you are putting down the glue.
Feather Boards
You should employ the feather board to direct the material across the blade’s cutting surface when employing a table saw. The feather board produces a more uniform cutting action and keeps your hands safe from the ramifications of kickback as well as from approaching the cutting tip of the blade. You can buy them or make them. No matter which option you pick, be certain that the feather board is suitable for your particular project.
Wood Moisture Meter
It is essential to determine the amount of moisture in wood flooring in order to complete a successful project. If the wood has too much moisture, it could cause the floor that fitted so perfectly when first put in to eventually show indications of gaps, cupping, or warping, potentially leading to expensive repair costs for the installer.
A total of half a billion dollars is spent annually on rectifying flooring breakdowns, as reported by marketing research. It’s essential to ensure that flooring substances are tested with a precise timber moisture measuring device before, while, and after installment.
There exist two distinct kinds of wood moisture meters: pinless and those that use pins.
Concrete RH Testing System
It is essential to be aware of the dampness level of a concrete slab prior to putting down any kind of flooring covering. Excessive moisture in panels can lead to problems with glue, curving of the wood, or it might cause it to dip inwards. Probes that are within the concrete slab provide the most trustworthy assessment of the humidity conditions when it comes to RH testing.
Other evaluation techniques, such as the calcium chloride test or the poly-film examination, are usually not trustworthy and are being phased out.
Surface concrete meters can provide useful information about which areas should be tested for RH, though they won’t give a detailed understanding of the moisture content in the slab like RH testing will.
Tape Measure
Every flooring installer should possess a cheap tape measure, which is an essential tool for a hardwood floor. It’s prudent to pick a ruler that you can read without difficulty, can be pulled out, and has a clip on the end for maintaining its position. Without an anchor to hold the tape measure in place, the accuracy of the measurement might be inaccurate, with a variation of up to 1/8 of an inch.
Level
A level can be used to see if the subfloor is flat and provide a stable base for the hardwood flooring to be laid down. Putting in wooden flooring over an uneven base can set up conditions that are likely to cause it to eventually fail. You will need a significant degree of precision in order to evaluate the flatness of the subfloor.
They are available in both four and six feet lengths. A full stage will have measurements from bubbles on either side, one to determine the horizontal level and the other to determine the vertical level. The edges of the level should be constructed from either metal or wood with brass trim.
Solutions for Straight Lines and Angles
A Carpenter’s square is useful to precisely measure right angles and edges that are perpendicular, so as to mark cuts on your materials. Triangle protractors are available in either metal or plastic and can be used to make sure that you are angling your saw correctly when cutting corners and moldings. You can select either a manual or digital protractor.
Spacers
Utilizing spacers gives an indication of the “expansion gap.” Wood can swell or diminish with any changes in humidity, meaning hardwood flooring can expand and compress. Using spacers will allow for a small gap around the walls of the room to enable the flooring to ventilate.
Saws
Hand saws are ideal for minor sawing tasks; they are capable of completing those jobs effectively. They are more effective at reducing sound and dust. Some hand saws you may want to purchase are:
- Standard hand, crosscut, and rip saws for basic straight cuts
- Backsaw, a shorter, fine-toothed saw, used with miter boxes
- Coping saws are used for fine, intricate cuts as well as curved or circular cuts
- Hacksaws and mini-hacksaws, similar to coping saws, have longer, deeper fine-toothed blades and are used for cutting metals and plastic
- Jamb saws come with an offset handle that allows for undercutting door jambs
What About Nailers and Fasteners?
When it comes to making the decision to purchase a hardwood flooring nailer, there are many options available. Ultimately, it is the small details and changes that can make one model more desirable than another, depending on the individual’s choice.
Nail guns used for flooring typically have the same purpose in mind—driving cleats and staples into floors—but the specifics of each device may have slight discrepancies between models, or may offer unique features.
Why would you manually nail every board like craftsmen used to do? A hardwood flooring nailer is super-fast.
How fast? Check out the 2019 Wood Floor Installation Champions of the Fastest Nailers! You cannot achieve this kind of speed and precision without it. A wood flooring nailer makes laying hardwood floors much easier and guarantees that the nails are inserted with a perfect 45° angle each time.
Let’s start with the basics.
What Is a Hardwood Flooring Nailer?
A wood flooring nailer is different from other nail guns that drive a nail straight downwards from its source. The goal of the nail, also known as a cleat or staple, is to be placed in the tongue and groove floorboard at a 45° angle. The uniqueness of these nail or staple guns is due to this.
A plunger is used to push the nail or cleats from the end and into the side of the board, therefore attaching it securely to the underneath layer. It guarantees a perfect angle and depth every time. The angle aids in pushing the board snugly against the adjacent board and in securing it to the ground with the nail.
These tools work manually or pneumatically.
The Difference Between a Manual and Pneumatic Nailer
Manual nailers for floors are easier to use, yet demand more of your physical strength to operate. Nailers are used by tapping the head of the hammer with a rubber mallet to drive the nail into place. Pneumatic nailers also require a mallet to activate them. However, the lever serves as the initiator and the air pressure propels the cleat. Some models use a trigger instead of a mallet. You can modify the air pressure on a pneumatic nailer so that it is fitting for the density and size of the flooring.
A word of caution. If a pneumatic nailer is not guarded against dry-firing, then releasing the hammer head will activate and discharge the nail, even in situations where there is no nail present at the target surface.
You need to get an air compressor and a hose to operate a flooring nailer that runs on compressed air. Spending extra money on it is worthwhile because it eliminates the strain on your arms and reduces the deterioration of them. It only requires one strike of the muzzle to drive the nails into the wood, as opposed to using manual nailers.
For individuals who do their own home improvement projects on a tight budget, a hand operated nail gun will be enough. For large jobs, you’ll need a pneumatic. It’s economical by saving time and your arms.
What Type of Fastener Does It Use?
Wood floors can be installed by either of two fastener types, cleats or staples.
A cleat is a type of nail that has a head that is shaped like an ‘L’ or occasionally a ‘T’. They range in size from 15.5, 16, 18, to 20 in terms of gauge. For thin floors, the lightweight 20 gauge is best. The two most frequent sizes of staples or cleats are 1 ½ inches and 2 inches. A helpful cleat depth chart is available here to help you understand better.
The rod of a cleat has jagged edges which help it to firmly fix itself into the wood. The cleat has a small section on its uppermost part that is even. It permits the enlargement of the wood without breaking the tongue.
Many contractors prefer using 16-gauge cleats for their strength and stability when laying down hardwood floors. It’s an excellent all-purpose fastener. Check with the flooring manufacturer for recommendations.
Additional Considerations Before Choosing a Floor Nailer
You should take into account certain design characteristics before deciding on a wood floor nailer.
Weight, Ergonomics, and Body Material
Nail guns can weigh anywhere from 3.3 lbs to 16 lbs. The body can be aluminum, steel, or both. If the lighter model has all the features you desire, it will be beneficial to your arms in the long term.
Another factor is the ergonomic design of the handle. The grip on handles that is made of energy absorbing rubber feels pleasant to the touch and won’t cause fatigue to the hand after arduous nailing. Search for a handle that is longer in length to decrease the amount of crouching and bending.
Look for Versatility
Certain nailers are designed to just utilize one type of fastener, whereas other models are able to accommodate both staples and cleats of different sizes. If you use one tool for multiple tasks, you can save money by not investing in a separate nailer. Two-in-one or three-in-one nail guns have an advantage as they can be employed for different types of fasteners.
If you are looking to put in various kinds of hardwood floors that come in different thicknesses, it is best to go with a nailer that can adjust to fit all styles. You should purchase a model with variable base plates that are suitable for both 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch surfaces. For certain models, the base plate is included, but for other models it must be purchased separately. Make certain you have the appropriate foundation plate for your flooring project.
Safety Features You Want
Certain pneumatic tools are equipped with a special safety component known as Dry Fire Lock Out. It prevents accidental firing.
Always wear safety goggles when nailing. Some labels provide a complimentary set when you buy the product.
When operating close to compressors and air that is compressed, it’s still a good idea to wear ear protection. You should put on work gloves to protect your hands and avoid getting a painful blister from repeatedly using the mallet.
Extras Tools and Features
Certain nailers come with all the necessary components, while with other ones you have to choose what you need individually. Check to see if the model you want includes:
The reload indicator prevents the nailer from obstructing by making sure it remains filled.
Carrying case – Keeps everything organized
Safety goggles – Don’t nail without them
Oil – Most nailers need lubrication. Determine if you have the right oil before starting
A good nail gun should come with all the necessary components to be able to operate it. Check before you order or leave the store. It is very advantageous to have all the necessary components in a single container, especially when the task requires going a long distance to get to the closest store that carries hardware.
