I’m rebuilding a porch for a customer and installing douglas fir t&g flooring . I started to nail it with paslode trim nails,but i don’t trust them to hold . I stopped after a few boards. The framing is all pressure treated, so i know i need a galvinized or stainless nail. I’m trying to avoid hand nailing if possible. I would rather hand nail if I knew it would prevent any future problems.
So what would you use ?
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I just put down about 1000sf of 1x4 T&G VG fir flooring on a porch. As much as possible was fastened with 2" stainless steel L-cleats, the rest (around the edges where the nailer would not fit) with 1-5/8" stainless trim screws.
When we demo'd the existing floor (plywood) we found that all of the framing was 24" O.C. I did not consider that to be adequate--too much span, not enough fasteners. So, we doubled everything and had nailing 12" O.C. and a nice stout deck to walk on. What's your framing look like?
You can rent a cleat nailer but you'll probably have to order the SS cleats from someplace like Manasquan. They are not cheap. Hey, maybe I should sell you what I have left!
It's all new framing on 16" centers. The porch is 16' x 8',I'll probably end up hand nailing it. The old flooring was fastened with common nails,iwas gonna try 2" galv ring shanks but thry gonna split the wood real bad.
I always use the galvy "screw" shank.
I wouldn't trust porch flooring to anything else.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements