Installing 3/8" solid Brazilian Cherry

silverbullet

We have just purchased a house and will be installing a prefinished 3/8" brazilian cherry hardwood floor in the living room prior to moving in. We selected the Bellawood brand.

This is my first hardwood flooring install. I have laid laminate several times and found it very easy. I am confident I'll figure hardwood out, but I want to get as much info as possible before I start.

Since the neighboring room, the kitchen, has hardwood maple, I am going to attempt a hardwood maple 1 board width border 2-3 boards away from the wall around the room. To make it a bit easier I was going to basket weave the corners instead of 45's on the border and the exterior.

I plan on stapling or nailing the floor. I saw that most pneumatic floor nailers, however only adjust from 1/2" to 3/4". Is this because of nail depth through the tongue? Is there a different type pneumatic stapler/nailer I should look to rent/purchase to secure the 3/8" flooring that I've purchased?

Thank you for any help you can provide.

redline

Does the manufacturer recommend nailing this product?

Seems that it would be glued and not nailed as it is too thin for nails.

silverbullet

Bellawood website says to either glue or nail. I was thinking you can probably get a tighter seam nailing. I am looking for someone that has experience with the 3/8" hardwood solid flooring that can give me tips. Thanks

kian

how did your hardwood floors turn out? I've run into the same situation with bellawood, and I'm planning on nailing 3/8 inch redwood floors. I'm still looking for a nailer

HardwoodGuy

No instruction literature with the product?

I would follow the BR111 specs. They manufacture similar thickness solid flooring and recommend...see below

http://br111.com/pdf/516716_Install.pdf

poolecw

I stapled my Shaw brand 3/8" engineered hardwood with no problems. I went online to amazon.com and bought a Bostitch SX150-BHF-2 18 Gauge Hardwood Flooring Stapler. It worked great and cost about $100 than if you bought it at Lowes.

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Thanks,

Chris

silverbullet

My floor turned out wonderful! I bought a specialty pneumatic flooring stapler for 5/16 and 3/8" flooring (i forget which brand) with the 45 degree base. It worked great. We took some pictures of our floor and sent them to LL because if you provide pics they will give you a free care kit. My brother-in-law is building a house and mentioned - I saw your floor on LL website. I have included the link if you would like to look.

http://www.lumberliquidators.com/hm/...me=Hardwood029

My wife an I are very pleased with the quality and the look of the floor. Especially the installation We are probably going to do the next room with the same.

Kevin