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I am getting ready to nail down some new tongue and groove pine flooring.
I have always driven the nail through the bottom of the groove, but the fellows at the lumber yard told me I am doing it wrong, that you are supposed to nail through the tongue. I think that would just crush the tongue to the point that it wouldn’t fit tightly together. Hey, I’m 67 years old… have I been wrong all this time? Or is there something I should know? Any one have any thoughts?
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Jim, I'm afraid the guy's at the lumber yard are right, your supposed to nail thru the tongue. Just curious, are you nailing by hand or using a flooring nailer?
Chuck
*Jim,It's not your age or that you have been nailing it wrong all theses years. Nowdays we use air driven staples or nails made for flooring which penetrate the flooring above the tongue. There are also airless power nailers that we still use from time to time that work the same way the air nailers do with a little more human effort. If you are nailing 2x flooring I would still nail it above the tongue.
*Nail it at an angle into the board just above the tongue. Shouldn't split it out except maybe at the end of the board. Stay in an inch or so. Predrill if necessary. Nail set it to near flush so the groove slides on nice. You sure got the ambition buddy. Best of luck. If the room size warrants it, think about renting the air assist nailer. Less time on your knees but you'll be bent over. The manual flooring nailer could lengthen one of your arms. FWIW, some fir flooring around here (that isn't relieved on the bottom) has a thicker side above/below the tongue. Not much diff, but you'll want it all to be the same. Keeps the registration of the boards the same.
*Jim,If you've been nailing flooring that way without any trouble, I say why not! As long as it's nailed down and you can't see the nail, who cares.If you decide to rent an air flooring nailer or stapler, (they are worth the rent money) you will have to nail through the tongue. That's how they are designed.Every man to his own way,Ed. williams
*Thanks, folks for the replies. I've been occupied with my wife, who is ill, and couldn't get back with my words of thanks. I only have about 100 sq.ft. of flooring, so I will be hand nailing just at the tongue, as suggested. Thanks again!
*Jim,Our best to you and yours.et al.