Hello all..

My wife and I just ordered 1250SQ of hardwood and will be installing it our self in the next couple weeks. I do not have any manufacture information on it yet as it hasn't come in but I do have a bunch of questions.

I spent about a total of 8 hours over the last couple days search around and it's amazing how different people can have totally 100% opposite opinions on how something should be done. I consider myself a relatively handy person and have tackled large reno projects in the past but have yet to install any nailed down hardwoods.

Some upfront information...

Location: Buffalo NY.

Flooring~
5/8 Strand Bamboo
I plan on using 1 1/2" 16 gauge cleats with a pneumatic gun.
I plan on installing perpendicular to the joist.

Subfloor~
1st floor over an extremely dry basement...never had a water issues
2x10 joist with 3/4 plywood (10 year old house). Some joist are 16" OC and some are 12"
Currently we have carpet (dinning room, great room, 1st floor bedroom) and linoleum (kitchen)

So the questions...

1. When I bought my nailer it said ' made for 1/2 or 3/4' wood.' The Bamboo is 5/8..i mistakenly read the nailer specs and ('or' VS. through). Should I use the 1/2 spacer or the 3/4? I've read on another forum with the same nailer...the 3/4 plate was used

2. Is an underlayment required? I've read 'absolutely 100% yes ' (mostly from guys selling underlayment) and read.."100% no" as it will actually promote squeaking. I happened to meet a contractor last weekend and asked him..he told me that he doesn't use underlayment under nailed down stuff..and the floors he installed 14 years ago in his house are fine.

3. Is it best practice to remove the existing baseboards or just install up to it and use toe molding (which I'm going to use anyway)? Again.. I've read both ways.

4. In the kitchen the refrigerator and dishwasher are being removed. Do I install hardwoods under each? The frig sits in between a bunch of cabinets with no exposed side. I do have the height to install the hardwoods under the frig but not real sure about the dishwasher until I tear out the old floor. I'm leaning toward installing under the frig but not the dishwasher.

5. Stone fireplace
How to I trim around a stone fireplace? Where the base of the fireplace touches the floor there is a LOT of texture in the stone...it not a smooth surface. The only way I can see trimming this area is with toe molding and nailing it to the actual hardwood. I've read the undercutting method also..suggestions?

6. What's the acceptable cleat spacing (this will probably be in the manufacture information when I get it) for 5/8 bamboo? I usually do things a bit overkill but have read that to many cleats could actually be bad and eventually cause bowing

Thanks in advance!

To answer your questions;

1) Your nailer should work ok. Maybe shim the bottom plate with something thin, or loosen the screw a little. You can also add several pieces of tape to the bottom to get that 1/8"

2) I would use some roofing felt paper under it. This will actually hep prevent squeaks

3) This is up to you. Either method will work. Just be sure that their is some space for the wood to expand and contract.

4) I would install under the refrigerator since you have the height to do so. The dishwasher really does not matter.

5) I wouldn't try to undercut the stone but rather do as you suggested and use a shoe molding. Another option is to make a template and cut the board to follow along the texture. You can do this with A piece of cardboard or some of your roofing felt.

6) Space your cleats 6-8" apart


Hope this helps

I think you made the right choice. I suspect keys might have taken away from the elegant slope of the corners. I've made a few boxes now without splines and as far as I know they've all held up just fine. I read that gluing in a plywood bottom helps a lot with holding the miters together on a box with relatively short sides.