My uncle swore by installing hardwood with a nail gun, not glue

He told me that back in 2008 when I redid my living room floor in Columbus. I figured glue was faster and easier for a first timer so I ignored him. Three years later I had boards popping up near the kitchen because of humidity changes. The glue didn't flex enough. He came over last summer and helped me pull up half the floor and redo it with a rental nailer. Took twice as long but the floor has been solid for over a year now. Has anyone else had trouble with glue in older houses that settle or shift?

2 comments

2 Comments

adam_lewis1mo ago

Man that is rough. I had the exact same thing happen in my old house in Cincinnati. Glue just could not handle the foundation settling and the seasonal moisture changes. Your uncle was right, nail guns give you that mechanical bond that lets everything move together without popping. Its a pain to redo a floor after its already done, I feel for you on that one. What kind of nail gun did you end up using, a floor stapler or a cleat nailer?

scott.shane1mo ago

Cleat nailer all the way. Floor staplers just dont hold as well in my experience.