I have a 21'x14' room that I'm putting in engineered hardwoods. I purchased 300 sq feet of 3/8 in. x 5.5 in. planks to install. House is pier and beam. There are diagonal 2x6 planking over the joists and then 3/4" plywood sheeting on top of that. Room was previously carpeted.

These are my questions:

1 - Should I run the planks horizontal (parallel to the 14' wall) or vertical (parallel to the 21' wall)? I know that vertical would require less cuts but aesthetically how would that look?

2 - Float or staple. I'm trying to determine the best way to lay them. Either buy/rent a stapler or glue the T&G and float. I'm leaning toward staple. From what I have read its faster and I have heard that floating will leave the floor with a hollow sound. I have laid 3/4 hardwood using a nailer and that seemed to go pretty easily. Are these assumptions correct? Any other considerations that I'm not accounting for?

3 - Should I leave the plywood sheeting or remove it and install directly over the planking? Any advantages to either approach?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this. I would appreciate any feedback.

Go over the plywood and staple, run it anyway you want. I like the long way.

But your going to have to use a floor runner type stapler, not the big one you used for the 3/4 inch.

Thanks. This is the stapler I was going to get.

http://www.bostitch.com/default.asp?CAT ... ng+Stapler

I know a guy selling for $95 that's still in the box.

I have that one and it will work. Get the pressure set (counter sink) good before starting.

Couple more questions. What size staples should I use and approximately how many do you think I will need?

I just want to point out that 300sf for a 21X14 room only gives you 6sf of waste. I would probably got another box. Use whatever size staple the flooring calls for.

They usually call for the 20ga stapler but that thing is a POS IMO. Especially if your gooing into some iffy OSB. Those little wires won't hold for long.

Better get two boxes just in case. Buy them all day long at Lowes.

_________________
Stephen Perrera
Top Floor Installation Co.
Tucson, Arizona
Repairs and Installation in Tucson, Az
http://www.floorsavior.com
http://www.tucsonazflooring.com