Okay, I'm a do it yourselfer. Here's my situation. I just bought 1000 sq ft of 3/8" thick x 3 1/4" wide solid "brazilian koa" from Lumber Liq. I have a raised foundation with 1 1/8" t&g supported every 4 ft. I purchased a porter cable fcn200 nailer.

1. Do I use 2" nails or buy 1 1/4"? If 1 1/4" do I need to modify my nailer?

2. Should I put more plywood (maybe 1/2 osb?) down since my 4x6 joists are spaced every four feet, for added stability?

3. I'm pulling up some parquet flooring in some areas. Do I scrape the black mastic off or just paper right over and install?

Thanks in advance. I wish I found your forum before I bought my LL flooring. Alas, I'll just cross my fingers and hope for the best.

You bought the wrong nailer. That is a nailer for 5/8 to 33/32 flooring, not thin 3/8".
Also, thin flooring = staples.

You need one of these.

Senco: SLS20HF







or on of these from Bostich.

I agree with Perry about the nailers. It would be a very good idea to install some 1/2" plywood over those subfloors. I know the system you are refering to and it is known for sagging between those girders as well as excessive flexing. I'd level the subfloor first with thin plywood, roofing shingles and felt. Then install your 1/2" plywood over your flatened subfloor. Then you will be ready to intall that 3/8" flooring. Without stiffening that subfloor, your 3/8" may be noisy.

lets not forget about one of these:

Spotnails Striker WS4840W2



I think in the other thread the consensus was that this one shot the longest staples. I like my LHF and don’t plan on changing, but this one seemed to be the cats meow to everyone else.

I just did the opposite. I bought the Bostitch LHF97125-2 that's made for 3/8" that shoots the 1" staples and I need the one that shoots the 1-1/4". I'm getting the Spotnail one I think. The Bostitch is for sale now if you are interested. Dave

I talked to an installer friend of mine. He suggested that I glue the 3/8" solid flooring down. stapling in his opinion causes the wood to crack over time since the flooring is so thin.

Also, if I do glue it down, do I remove the black mastic from the parquet or should I throw down some 1/2" ply over it?

Those type of subfloors flex, A LOT! Your thin wood isn't going to handle that too well. IMO, you should lay some 1/2" CDX over it and then glue/nail your floor down. If your gluing, you could save a little and substitute OSB instead of plywood. I prefer plywood in all situations. No need to remove the old adhesive IF you sheet the subfloor.

hey woohoo1 i just found this nostitch on ebay, guys finished with his floor and trying to get rid of the gun now, not sure if its a good price but maybe worth alook:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Stanley-Bostitch-lam ... dZViewItem

If it works that is a good price.

Here's the one that I bought off EBAY. I'll take what I have in it if anyone is interested. I haven't even opened the package yet. I need the Spotnail gun Thanks, Dave

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %26fvi%3D1