I'm relatively new to installing hardwood floors.
I'm about to install a Macaranduba (Brazilian Jarrah) floor - 3/4" x 4" planks. I know that the wood is quite hard, and brittle. One person has suggested that I use glue to install the flooring; while others say that nails, not staples work fine.
Does anyone have any experience that they can share on this wood?
I've been told that the sawdust is quite an irritant, as well.

Thanks for your help!

Gerald

These very hard south american wood floors are difficut to install and we installers need to charge accordingly. The problem is the wood is brittle so the typical floor nailers bust the tongues during installation. A small piece of broken tongue here and there doesn't matter but it is a huge problem if it is happening a lot. I've come to the realization that the harder, wide plank floors should be nailed and glued. A lot of pros are going to this style of installation. Full trowel moisture cured adhesive and nailing about 16" oc, and not too close to the ends. Very time consuming. Others I know are predrilling and hand nailing. Not for me, thank you very much. I haven't done one in awhile but the next one will be glued and nailed.

Prefinished? If you're site finishing, irritant may be ... but prefin may not expose you to enough dust to notice.

Had one jarrah job this past summer. Harder than the hubs of hades. Was 3" though. Using the glue on 4" would be a wise addition to nails. Definitely take your time. Polyurethane based or moisture cure adhesives. I like the Chemrex.

Good Luck

Thanks for the input.
This one's for my own home; so the pricing isn't a factor. But the customer's pretty hard to satisfy!

However, the floors in some areas aren't that flat, dipping about 1/8" to 3/16" in some areas, following joists.
It seems to me that with a glue installation, the flatness of the floor would be a bigger issue; and require different strategies to remedy than that of a nail-only installation.
Do you have any ideas here?

Thanks,

Gerald

1/8" - 3/16" is not a huge deal if over a certain sized diameter. If your site finishing you can corect some issues in sanding providing your experience level. When gluing 3/4" mat'l and using the 3/16' - 1/4" square notch or even some larger v-groove trowels the 1/8" - 3/16" low spots will float decently.