Method for installing 3/8" engineered hardwood
 

I'll be installing about 1000Sqft of Shaw Epic hardwood in my new home. I"ll be installing it on top of 3/4" Advantech T&G subfooring (over a crawspace in North GA).

I can either nail/staple it down or float it. What are the pro's and con's of each of these methods?

What is your board width ?

I have been getting ready to put in new floors and will float mine. One advantage is that the floating can be easier to repair.

I am interested to see what the pro guys and others say about this topic!

The boards are 5" wide....

Staples are the best way to go. They offer a tighter more solid feeling floor. The floating floors have a tendency to make you feel like your floating.

Float it!
 

No problem at all to float them. It is much less work and much less floor prep.
You will also have the option of an underlayment that will keep the wood warmer, winter is here!
This underlayment will also keep the floor cooler come summer.

You will a slight echo effect but many times you get a an echo if installing any way do to slight voids in the floor.

Since you have thc choice I say. Float it!

floor tip
 

One thing to remember when installing wood is to leave a little room for it to breathe. Our contractor allows a little gap around the perimeter of the room and then the baseboards covers it. One home owner did his own and didn't do that and some boards started buckling with the temperature changes.

You are correct
 

Leave at least 1/4 expansion along all your walls.

Floater
 

Lay down a Floormuffler underlayment......absorbs the hollow sound you get from most floating floors.... also acts as a moisture barrier.:thumbsup:

I prefer Quiet Walk by MPGlobal it is all I use.

I just read the installation procedure for a product by that name. From what I read I would staple it. I personally don't like the thought of glueing joints and wiping of the residual glue I always get on the surface :laughing:. It will be firm as nailerman already stated. Hope this helps.