T Nails Vs L Nails Flooring

Be sure to nail every 6 8 into the hardwood.

T nails vs l nails flooring.

Most cleat nails are 16 ga. Diy enthusiasts want to know which choice is best in the cleats vs staples argument. The 16 gauge nail is perfect for 1 2 in. Pros and cons of using cleats for hardwood floor installation.

If you are crossing the joists with the hardwood see if you can nail on the joist beneath the subfloor and between the joists. That will automatically give you nails every 8. The big drawback with cleat nails is their cost which at 65 to 85 per 5000 is about twice the price of staples. Both types have ribs on two thirds of the nail shank.

Nails allow for a more natural expansion and contraction of the hardwood floorboards with fewer problems. Nails are available for installing engineered flooring. 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. The 3 4 subfloor is just adequate for the 2 flooring nails to almost fully engage so it s ok.

Nails and staples differ in their holding properties. The recommended gauges don t refer to standard construction nails but to cleat nails designed specifically for use on hardwood flooring. Solid wood flooring installations. Or 18 ga but thinner 20 ga.

Manual floor fasteners always use cleat nails but pneumatic models come with two options. A staple will give a stronger less forgiving hold because of its two pronged construction. 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. Because each staple grips the wood with two prongs staples provide a tighter initial grip than cleat nails.

So if you want a pneumatic nailer you have one more decision to make. They strongly recommended installing hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring with l cleats or t cleats. You have to choose between models that use either l cleats or t cleats. Cleat nails are typically installed with an automatic.

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. Cleat nails come in 16 or 18 gauge and ate l or t shaped.