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Staple Sizes for Hardwood Floors

Staple-down installation is a preferred way to secure hardwood flooring to subflooring. Staple sizes for this kind of installation range from 1 1/2 inch to 2 inches. The exact size you use depends on the thickness of the wood floor, as well as the type and thickness of the subflooring. Generally speaking, use 1 1/2-inch staples on a floor that's a half-inch or five-eighths of an inch thick. Use 1 3/4- or 2-inch staples for a floor that's three-fourths of an inch thick, depending on the subflooring. Use 1 3/4-inch staples if you're placing single-layer plywood directly over concrete. Use 2-inch staples if you're installing hardwood over a double layer of plywood or a wood subfloor with joists.

  1. Staples vs. Other Fasteners

    • Stapling is one of the four possible ways to secure a hardwood floor. Over the past decade it has quickly gained favor among professional and nonprofessional installers alike. Other installation options are nailed-down, glued-down and free-floating. Appropriately sized staples will effectively secure most hardwood floors. Installation requires a stapling device, such as a pneumatic gun, which can be rented.

      Although most homeowners prefer the staple-down method over the nailed-down method, a free-floating wood floor is by far the easiest to install. The glued-down method can work well over any subfloor but is generally not recommended for solid hardwood, because of the expansion and contraction of the wood.

    Staple Gun

    • Staples are attached to hardwood flooring with a staple gun. Getting the right type and size of fastening device is essential. Different wood floor manufacturers may express a preference for a certain staple gun over another, so always check with your installation manual before renting or purchasing any sort of device. Thinner floors, either half-inch or five-eighths of an inch thick, generally require a smaller nailing device than hardwood flooring that is three-fourths of an inch thick. Use the correct pressure setting on the pneumatic staple gun. In most cases the device should be at 70 to 80 psi.

    Staple Placement

    • Place a staple every 6 to 12 inches along the tongue of each board. Place a minimum of 2 staples, one on each side of the wood. Maintain at least 3 inches of space from each end joint. Stapling too close to the end can make wood split, which can eventually lead to annoying squeaks in the floor.

    Strength

    • Staples gain additional staying power with a glue resin that coats their metal prongs. This hardened glue is heated by the force of the friction caused by the staples passing through the wood. Once heated, this substance is a powerful adhesive. Some installers, particularly in parts of the country where there are high levels of humidity, have noted that the force of the fastening is so strong that it may restrict the expansion and contraction of wood too much, causing the boards to squeak.

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Floors
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  2. How Do Splinters in Hardwood Floors Look?
  3. Decorating Ideas for Faux Wood Floors
  4. Focus on Design: Hardwood Floors
  5. Remodeling Ideas for Hardwood Floors
  6. Feng Shui Information on Hardwood Floors
  7. Reasons for Warped Floors
  8. Do Hardwood Floors Expand?
  9. Oil vs. Varnish for Hardwood Floors
  10. Ammonia vs. Vinegar for Hardwood Floors
  11. The Length of Staples for 3/4-inch Hardwood Floors
  12. A Timetable for Refinishing Hardwood Floors

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