Top Benefits of Hardwood Floors

Here are some of the top benefits of hardwood floors that require norge floor nailers to install:

Natural Patterns

Wood provides natural beauty/patterns. You won’t have to deal with factory patterns that keep repeating.

Flexibility

These floors  also provide more versatility. The good news is hardwood floors can match up with just about any theme or color scheme. You can pick from a wide range of finishes/colors that won’t clash with a room’s décor. As a result you can change the room’s décor instead of changing the flooring each time you want to redesign the space.

Acoustics

This is probably surprising. The wood floors help lower hollow sounds/vibrations that can sometimes take place in a room. This improves the overall experience of a room.

Refinishing

Hardwood floors can be refinished instead of being replaced. This helps to save money over the high costs of replacing flooring. It lets you make major changes to your house without installing new flooring.

No Fading

This is a plus over carpets that fade over time. Since the color doesn’t fade wood floors last longer.

Green

If you want an Earth-friendly choice then consider wood floors. Some materials like bamboo grow super-fast so they’re very sustainable.

Durable

One reason hardwood floors are so low-maintenance is they’re durable/strong and can last for decades. . They can indeed get scratched but it’s tough for that to happen. Some spot cleaning is all you have to do in order to remove scratches, scuffs, scrapes, and dents.

Cost-effective

These floors are also very cost-effective. For example, you don’t have to buy a vacuum for maintenance. They can also be refinished when they’re scratched instead of being replaced. Another plus is hardwood floors are always in style so it’s not like carpets whose designs can quickly go out of style.

Increases value

Floors made of hardwood can add value to homes. In fact, buyers spend more for home with these floors than carpeting.

Air Quality

These floors don’t trap things like dust, pollen, dander, and other allergens. In fact, wood floors are a good option for people with allergies.

Appearance

Hardwood floors can help to improve the look and feel of your home. Some people even argue that floors made with materials like oak and pine help to make a room look larger than it actually is. In addition to that, they can also provide more warmth.

All of these features are important. That’s because you’ll want your home to be as inviting as possible to guests. There’s various ways to achieve that goal including hardwood flooring.  

Low-Maintenance

It’s quite easy to clean hardwood floors. In order to remove dust/dirt you’ll need to sweep/mop/vacuum the flooring on a weekly basis. You’ll also need to do deep cleaning but only about once per year. This can help to save you time, effort, and money. There’s more! These floors are also “green” since they don’t trap things like allergens.

The floors are also more stain-resistant. Unlike carpets you can just wipe up the spills instead of using different substances/products to remove spills/stains.  

Top Benefits of Flooring Nail Guns

Here are some of the top benefits of norge floor nailers:

Power

It’s first critical to note that flooring nail guns tend to be more powerful than other kinds of nailers. That’s because the high power that’s required to drive fasteners into hardwoods. Before you pick a particular nail gun unit make sure to research the specifications in terms of the amount of power it produces.

That includes the range of pound-force/square inch (psi). The key is to make sure the unit has enough power to drive nails in the hardwood flooring you’re installing.

Pneumatic Type

It’s important to note that flooring nail guns are pneumatic. In other words they use compressed air to drive nails. When picking a unit it’s critical to learn the basics about how these types of nail guns work. They’re different from others that are powered by batteries or fuel.

It’s also critical to keep in mind that there’s 2 kinds of pneumatic-type nail guns. There’s a high-velocity/direct drive type that utilizes gas pressure to drive nails directly. Then there’s a second type that’s called an indirect drive/low velocity nailer. This type of nailer uses gas in order to fire a piston into nails.  

Fastener Lengths

This is a key issue whether you’re picking a unit that operates cleats, staples, or both. Nailers typically fire nails/staples that include a range of lengths. This provides more versatility based on the type of flooring work you’ll be doing.

Should you purchase nails from the manufacturer of your flooring nail gun? In terms of compatibility it’s a good option. On the other hand, a more important issue is the general quality of the nails/staples you purchase. If they’re high-quality then you can avoid a lot of possible issues you’d have to deal with like more frequent mis/double firing when using low-grade fasteners.

Staples

It’s critical to make sure you know what kinds of fasteners the nailing gun for flooring uses. The main kinds are staples and cleats. What’s the difference?

Staples usually provide a better hold and particularly for woods that are harder. As a general rule these fasteners are used more frequently and are also more available. They use 2 prongs to grip the wood, which provides an initial grip that’s tighter than when using cleat nails.

One main drawback of staples is there’s a greater chance they’ll back out when the wood flooring expands/contracts. This makes the hold looser and boosts the chance of squeaks. Another issue is it’s more likely the staples will split the flooring’s tongue and particularly when the flooring is under ¾-inches thick.

Staples are made of metal like nails. However, the design is simpler so this creates a manufacturing process that’s less complex. As a result the price tag of staples is somewhat low.   

Cleats

On the other hand, other units use cleat nails. The main drawback of this choice is the cost, which is generally about 2x the cost of staples. So if you’re on a tight budget you should consider staples over cleats.

These are often sold with either T-shaped or L-shaped heads based on the nailer brand that’s used. These types of cleats both have a group of ribs that go two-thirds or farther down the nail shank’s sides. This is used to grip the sub-floor.

The rest of the nail is very smooth. This results in the finished flooring being able to expand/contract due to changes in temperature/humidity during the seasons. The thickness of the majority of cleat nails is 16/18 gauge. However, you can also find 20-gauge nails that can be used to install engineering flooring.  

When picking a nail gun you should consider a unit that can fire both nails and staples. This will provide more versatility based on the type of flooring you’ll be installing. You should also avoid using both cleats/staples during the same floor installation job. That’s based on the variances in the amount of seasonal movement and holding strength.

Magazine

When picking a nail gun for flooring you should consider various factors. One of the main one is the durability. Look for units that are made from strong materials like aluminum. This in turn will help to increase the lifespan of the model.

Another important issue is the magazine’s capacity. Some units can store 100-200 fasteners. Meanwhile, other magazines store a smaller number of staples/nails. If you want to reduce reloading time then you should look for nailers with large capacity magazines. This can help to make your flooring work more efficient.

Warranty

Here’s another important issue to take up when picking a nailer for flooring. You should first consider whether a limited or unconditional/forever warranty is offered. This helps to determine the amount of protection that’s provided. Make sure to read the terms & conditions of the unit. Then read them again!

Another issue is how many years the warranty is valid for. For example, some units are only covered up to a year after the purchase date while others are valid for several years after you make your purchase.  

No-Mar Foot

Why is this feature a plus? It helps to prevent the floor from being scratched from the nailer itself. Make sure to look for features like this when used on flooring that’s pre-finished. This is especially important because such floors are more easily damaged by nailers and other items that contact them.

Gauge

This figure is related to the size of the nails the nail gun fires. Keep in mind that when this figure is higher it means it uses thinner nails. On the other hand, when the figure is lower it means the nails are thicker.

As always it’s important to think about the types of hardwood you’ll be installing. This will help to determine whether or not you’re selecting a nail gun with the “right” gauge.

Accessories

When you purchase a nailer kit instead of just the unit itself it’s often bundled with various accessories. They include hex wrenches, carrying case, oil, etc. These items add value to your purchase so it’s definitely an option you should consider. The main benefit is you’ll have everything you need to get started with the nailer.  On the other hand, after doing the math you might discover the items included in the kit are over-priced. If that’s the case then you should consider buying the items separately.

Bumper

Consider units with a light-strike unit. These pneumatic nail guns just require a light strike in order to drive nails/staples. :This is a plus over manual tools since it will require less energy and thus make the tool easier to use.

Mallet

Some units are bundled with a rubber mallet that’s no-mar. This provides various functions. They include firing the nailer. It can also be used to move floor pieces into the right space. The no-mar feature is important to prevent damage to your flooring, which is another plus.

Comfort

It’s important to consider the comfort level provided by a  particular nailer. This includes issues like the weight, ergonomics, handle, trigger, etc. For example, you can find units that include a rubber grip or extended handle. This helps to result in units that are more ergonomic.

An ergonomic unit is definitely a good option since it can help to keep you as comfortable as possible if you must use the nailer for several hours. This can prevent arm/hand fatigue so your flooring work will be more effective/efficient.

Anti-Dry Firing

There’s various systems that are used to provide this feature. Sometimes nailers won’t fire when there’s a certain number of staples left in the magazine. In other cases there’s a reload indicator so you’ll know when it’s time to reload the nailer’s magazine. These systems are important since dry firing can cause damage to the nailer.

Firing Speed

Make sure to research how fast a particular nail gun is before deciding on it. This is critical because it will affect how much time you’ll need to complete flooring jobs. It can be a tough figure to calculate if you’re new to using nail guns.

Base Plates

Look for units that include base plates that are interchangeable. This allows you to switch different plates to pair up with the flooring thickness. This provides fastener placement that’s more accurate. That in turn will help to provide better results.

Brand

There’s many established companies that produce nailers for flooring installation. They include DeWalt, Bostitch, Hitachi, and Freeman. These are usually wise options since the companies have been in the industry for decades or even  a century. This results in better overall results in terms of the nailer’s quality and functionality.

Meanwhile, if you pick an off brand it’s generally an unwise choice. That’s because such units tend to have a lot of issues in terms of the product and service. The lower price tag won’t be worthwhile if the nailer breaks down during your first job and isn’t covered with a warranty.

Combo

Some nail guns for flooring are combo units. In other words they can work with cleats and staplers. This is a good option if you want the nailer to have more value. That’s because you can use the same unit for two different kinds of fasteners.

The drawback of this type of unit is it’s more complex so you’ll likely have to make a bigger investment than other units that only use staples or cleats. Is it worthwhile? In the case you have to install various types of hardwood floors it’s a good option. There are times when you’ll need nails and other times when staplers are more practical. The key is to consider the nail gun’s applications.