Flooring Staples Vs Cleat Nails

I started using cleats but the last two floors used staples i just get the feeling that the staples hold better not that there has ever been a problem with cleats.

Flooring staples vs cleat nails.

With staples you ll also have to nail in through the face thereby leaving marks all over the floor and ruining the appearance. Staples are made from steel just like cleats. Most cleat nails are 16 ga. Browse our selection of primatech cleats staples and nails or powernail flooring tools and flooring accessories.

Certain cleat nailer models are specifically designed for use with thin engineered hardwood flooring like the primatech q 550 18 gauge cleat nailer which can be used to install 3 8 to 3 4 tongue and groove flooring. A flooring nail or cleat is typically offered in either l head or t head variation check and see which variation your nail gun requires. Nails allow for a more natural expansion and contraction of the hardwood floorboards with fewer problems. Use only the flooring nail also called cleats that were designed for this purpose.

If you are using a pneumatic nailer or stapler make sure the air pressure is set correctly for the particular wood. The tongues have been known to crack off and as a result the boards will tilt and squeak. It also features a smooth portion of its body which allows for seasonal expansion and contraction of the flooring. I think both are great as long as install correctly that the biggest issue i see is people not putting enough fasteners into the floor.

The big drawback with cleat nails is their cost which at 65 to 85 per 5000 is about twice the price of staples. Finding the optimum fastener can be confusing. A staple will give a stronger less forgiving hold because of its two pronged construction. Pros and cons of using cleats for hardwood floor installation.

Nails are available for installing engineered flooring. Some hardwood flooring installers insist on using traditional cleats while others only use staples to secure solid hardwood. Diy enthusiasts want to know which choice is best in the cleats vs staples argument. With staples you get what you pay for.

The staples hold the hardwood too well and don t allow the wood its normal seasonal changes. You can probably use staples to lay down the backer board under the hardwood floor if you re in a cold weather windy area this will help insulate the house by preventing airflow through the slots in the floorboard. Nails and staples differ in their holding properties. Or 18 ga but thinner 20 ga.