My husband is going to get hickory boards and prepare each one for the floor. He wants to top nail in rows every 8". We r at odds over this. He is also talkin about putting a clear epoxy (the stuff u put on garage floors) as a durable top coat?
Hate to go behind my man's back.....but does anyone have any ideas on how to get non tongue & groove planks on a plywood subfloor without topnailing it?
Thanks for any and all ideas....u just might save my marriage:)

You could lay it out and have him stand on it as you go down in the crawlspace or basement and drive 1 inch screws up into it. I can't guarantee that it will save your marriage.

As a general rule if Mama ain't happy, there ain't nobody happy!

Personally, I would get a router and a slotting bit and put grooves in every board and use splines in one side so that it can be blind nailed.

Nothing wrong with that if thats the look your intending. People still do install like that especially on some really wide plank. He could also drill it and plug it.