How to Nail Hardwood Flooring Against the Wall
Hardwood flooring must have a 1/2- to 3/4-inch expansion gap all around the perimeter of the room, as well as along any permanent, vertical walls in the room. The gap allows the flooring material to expand and contract with humidity changes. Those flooring planks anchored close to walls use a different means of nailing than the ones that are installed in the field. Planks along walls are the only boards that must accept face nailing. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- 1/2- or 3/4-inch spacer block
- Hardwood flooring planks
- Safety glasses
- Drill
- 1/16-inch drill bit
- Hammer
- 7d nails
- Nail set
- Wood filler
Instructions
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1
Place several spacer blocks against the wall. Make sure to use the correct size spacer block for the hardwood flooring material you are using. The manufacturer prints the necessary expansion gap size on the packaging that wraps around flooring planks. The spacer will maintain the proper expansion gap.
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2
Butt the edge of a hardwood flooring plank against the spacer blocks. Each plank has a tongue milled into one edge and a groove milled into the opposite edge. Lay the planks down with the tongue facing away from the wall, toward the center of the room, if this is the first plank you install.
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3
Drill a series of 1/16-inch pilot holes into the face of the flooring plank. Drill the first hole about 3 inches from the end of the board and space the holes about 12 inches apart. The last hole should end up about 3 inches from the opposite end. Drill all the holes about 1/4-inch from the edge of the plank closest to the wall.
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4
Hammer 7d nails into each pilot hole. Countersink the heads with a nail set.
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5
Fill the holes with wood filler to prevent the nail heads from showing.
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6
Continue the face nailing process on all the boards that parallel a wall.
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References
- Photo Credit David Sacks/Lifesize/Getty Images
