Hello all!

I am going to be installing 250 sq ft of Jatoba in our master bedroom (2nd floor, HVACed space below) in February. The Jatoba is Thomasville 3/4" SOLID and will be going over 23/32" Sturd-i-Floor that was glued and nailed during construction. I plan on screwing the Sturd-i-Floor to the joists before installation. The Jatoba has been acclimating for almost a year (don't ask), and the house is 3 years old today.

Question #1: We have forced hot air heat, but I have a central humidification system on the heater and monitor moisture content because of sinus reasons. Moisture is maintained between 42 and 45% through the winter. Any issue with this?

Question #2: I have layed flooring previously, but not for a decade now. Back then, we always put down 15# felt parallel to the joists (perpendicular) to the floor. I recently went to a flooring supply because of my stapler (see #3) and to look at Red Oak for the primary rooms in the house. The guy there told me that 15# felt is not recommended -!?!?- and wanted to sell me some sort of hi-tech underlayment paper. I was reading posts here and see both? What's the issue with felt? Does it really matter as I don't have an install where moisture is a concern? Bought the felt already and would hate to be stuck with it.

Question #3: Because I will be installing 1500 sq ft of flooring in the house, I picked up a slightly used Bostitch M111FS with the shoe kit for prefinished floors. The rentals are always in rough shape, and I figure I'd buy one with rental charges anyway because I'm no pro and take my time. With that said, I think the stapler could use a rebuild to get it up to snuff and I'd like to get a kit. The flooring supply offered to send it out for reconditioning for $100!?!? I though that steep for what I believe amounts to a seal kit. What's the deal?

Question #4: Anybody use a M111FS on 3/4" solid Jatoba? Does it split the tongues up like the flooring supply told me? They wanted to rent me a mechanical leat nailer instead.

Thanks in advance for thoughts and advice!!!

Question #1:
No. What is it during the summer? Ideally, you want the interior humidity to remain fairly constant. Around 45 to 50% is best.
Question #2:
You can use the 15# asphalt felt. You can lay it perpendicular to the flooring or parallel. Just butt the seams instead of overlapping them.
Question #3:
You can buy a O-ring kit and do it yourself for around15 to 20 bucks. It's sorta a pain because there aren't any instructions. Basically, you take it completely apart and replace all the O-rings and gaskets. I've done it many times so it takes me about 45 minutes. It will take you a couple of hours the first time. But I think $100.00 is about the average rate for repairing those.
Question #4:
I have, many times. I'll get a little tongue split occasionally. If it's only once in a while and not severe, I think thats ok. Cleats are reportedly better but I cannot say from first hand experience. My M111 FS works fine for me.

Gary, I appreciate you taking the time to answer my long post!

Moisture is pretty consistent in the house year round because of my wife's sinuses. It is never out of the 40-50% range.

I found out after some calls this morning that I can get the seal kit from Bostitch directly for a reasonable price! I have no fear in rebuilding it myself as I am an industrial mechanic by trade and have rebuilt thousands of pumps with much greater tolerances than air tools ever see! Maybe I need to go into business reconditioning air tools for the flooring industry at $100 a pop!

I'm very glad to here that the stapler works on Jatoba!!! Do you have any experience with the foot kit for prefinished floors? It's actually pretty inexpensive right from Bostitch and I'm wondering if I should go this way because I am going to use prefinished everywhere in the house...

If it's a Bostitch part I wouldn't worry about it being good part. I'm kinda unsure if you actually need it. If the floor you're laying is 3/4", the standard foot on the M111 FS works fine the way it is. The prefinished foot just gives the nailer/stapler more stability. Maybe a good idea for a novice.

The flooring will all be 3/4". I'm just trying to find a manufacturer whose lengths for Red Oak will be on the longer side versus the shorter. Amazing how tough that is to do these days. The Thomasville Jatoba has a really decent array of sizing and the strips are true! I wish I knew who made this flooring for them as I doubt they do in their furniture factories... Would love to get the oak in the same quality!

I've never used an air-actuated stapler, but I've put down quite a bit of flooring (when finishing in-place was more common) using the old muscle-required-with-big-mallet nailers. I can still remember what it felt like after finsihing almost 5,000 sq ft! So, with that would you think I'd best be classified novice to an M111FS? I certainly don't want to marr finish.

Is this jatoba the special order flooring for $4.99/sf at the big orange logo home improvement center?

If I recall, that stuff got some rough reviews on the Big Orange's website.

How was I to know? The regular foot will not mar the finish. The extension just makes the stapler more stable and less likely to tip over. I feel it's a bit awkward but you may not, I dunno. We got along for more than 20 yrs. without it. So you decide whether you need it or not.

I like the foot for the stapler it makes it less physical and helps with those boards that need a little help connecting. The only issue I have run into is the plastic seems to be softer and picks up grit putting scratches on the boards. This never happens with the shoe that comes with the stapler.

Thanks Gary, I'll probably go the dummy route and get it...





No, the $4.99/sq ft is the Thomasville engineered product, which is also what got the tough reviews there and from Consumer Reports. [/quote]

Recieved my rebuild kit from Bostitch on Monday, and went to work on it last night. An hour later, I was done! $32 well spent as it included an exploded schematic, rebuild tips, and even lube for the rings! Don't be afraid to do it yourself!