While reading hardwood flooring articles on the net, I ran into directions from one company (I don't remember which one) that says for 3/8" flooring nail or staple through the groove. Have any of you heard of or done that before?

Yes, I have run into that, but only in the case of low priced MDF cored products. When stapling through the tongue on some of these products, the MDF distorts at the fastener location and makes it difficult to get the next board in place.

Dennis,

How does this effect installation, I have one of these comong up and have not had to install this way yet. Thanks

Doesn't really affect the install much; other than remembering to rack the floor out backwards. That is, tongue to the wall.

Shaw has a product like that. First time I read it I was like " A milk-a-whut"?

Sure doesn't seem like the groove side has enough meat for a solid install. I guess it all depends on the milling profile, the amount of wood under the bottom of the tongue.

You are right Floorologist, but the manufacturer is expecting their products to be placed in an inert environment so they dont need great holding power to the subfloor. Any variance in humidity and there's no warrantee so what do they care. It is my belief that these MDF cored veneered products are really just a temporary floor. Unlike the 3/4 solids we put down with a life expectancy of 60 - 80 years, if maintained. One section of my house actually has some red maple in it that was installed in 1902.

Red Maple is great stuff. Not so much fun to sand but it looks nice.

The old Bruce, Mannington and Anderson engineereds made in the 80's and early 90's never had issues. They were 3 ply and the entire board was the same species of wood.

The things they are coming up with today and calling it engineered wood, are an inspectors dream come true.


The MDF core deal is laughable.