I currently have carpet and want to put down some nail down wooden strip flooring. Problem is that under the carpet its concrete ( its a single level house) and from what I gather I will need to lay out some plywood before installing the hardwood. What is the cheapest and of course easiest way of anchoring the plywood sheets to the concrete. Using concrete nails and tapcon requires me to pre-drill the floor which is not easy, if not impossible. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Float a ¾" plywood over a moisture barrier. Don't fasten the plywood. Fasten the flooring to the plywood with fasteners that won't protrude out the plywood and penetrate the moisture barrier. Cut the plywood into 2x8 planks and stagger them in the opposite direction you want the flooring to run.

Thanks for both the quick response and advice but as usual with us novices theres always more questions. When you mention fastening the floor with fasteners to the plywood, I assume that is the same as nailing it?

Yes it is the same we use fastener because some people use cleats and others use staples while others face nail the boards. Fasteners covers the gamut of options.

Just to confirm the terminology of "floating plywood" over the moisture barrier, it is to place the plywood on the moisture barrier without any kind of adhesive(such as cement or mastic) or fastener? And as for the moisture barrier any particular type/brand recommended for this type of job?

Floorguy-

I was under the impression, from reading through the site and board, that in order to float the subfloor I would require two sheets of 1/2" CDX. Why would I float two sheets of 1/2" CDX fastened and glued together if I could accomplish the same thing with a single sheet of 3/4" CDX. Also, why would I fasten the single sheet of 3/4" CDX if I could just float it?

Thank you for your help and all that you contribute to this board.

-Luke