Great site. Well, the subject says just about all of it. I have a concrete slab with no moisture concerns. I layed down 30# roofing felt and attached 3/4" CDX with powder actuated fasteners. I used A LOT of fasteners (~50 per 4x8) and left 1/8" spacing between panels. I am preparing to glue down 3/8" hardwood with Bostik's Best. I have a few questions:

1. Do I start in the middle of the room, or at one wall?
2. Do I have to let the starter row cure before I install and tap in successive rows?
3. I am going to install using the wet-lay method, so which direction is best for cleanliness, tongue in or tongue out?
4. Am I asking for trouble?

Thanks, Chuck

1.either or
2.Because you are putting down over plywood you can nail your starters to keep them straight. Which is How I would do the whole thing, save some money on glue and no mess.
3.Bostik best sounds like overkill in you situation, can be a bear to remove or clean up.

Thanks for the reply. I was told that since I only have 3/4' plywood to nail into, I would have to do a glue-down. I'd prefer to nail or staple it, but I've been told by multiple people that there aren't nails short enough and the 1" narrow crown staples for my pneumatic finish stapler won't do the job. Is there a tool I can rent (or buy ) that will allow me to successfully nail it?

If you're installing 3/8", I'd nail/staple it. See my post to fixit girl.
http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... php?t=1177

I have a Senco floor runner, that is made for stapling down the thin stuff. You don't want to nail anything thinner the ½". Staples only.

I would also skip the adhesive. It is not going to save you if the concrete ends up having too much moisture for a solid wood, much less the plywood, unless you left some space between panels and not stacked them tight.

3/4 ply is what the majority of wood floors are put over. By all means it will work. Bostich makes a gun called the floor runner that works with most manufactures 3/8" floors. The home depot here rents those or powernail also makes a nice one that is called a model 200. go to powernailer.com to get a list of dealers in your area. Ditch the glue!

Thanks guys. I just cancelled the glue order. Now I am trying to find a place that I can get the Bostitch shipped 1 or 2 day delivery. Now that I am going to staple it, I have two really easy follow-up questions.....

1. Should I put any type of paper between the 3/8' and the subfloor?

2. How many staples am I going to need for a 500sqft installation?

Thanks again. This site has been REALLY helpful.

Its good to put down a 15# felt between the finished floor and the subfloor. Slows down vapor transmission and gives you a nice slip sheet for the boards to slide as they are being installed. you will need about 2500 staples for 500 sf.

I'm doing the same thing as you are and this is what my research has led me to:

Nail down on 3/4" plywood. Use builders dry sheathing paper (builders felt).

Use 1" 1/4 nails or 1" 1/2. The nailers for these cleats put the nail at a 50 degree angle. Therefore the distance they actually go into the plywood is 1/2" and 5/8" respectively. (see primatech.ca for a chart with that info).

Nailers to use: Primatech Q500. I bought this one for 260$ canadian.
or Powernail 50P - its new and its pneumatic! specifically designed for 3/8 floors and uses 1" 1/4 nails.

Whomever told you that you can only use one inch nails is full of it. The nail goes in at an angle. Use as much as you can. I recommend the 1/2 which leaves 1/8" left before concrete.

I've researched this ad nauseum. I'm half done my floor now, and it's looking beautful, the nails are holding just fine. Manual nailers are a bit exhausting if your not fit, so I suggest the pneumatic one if you can swing it. United Rental rents powernail, and may have a 50P.

Thats it.
Julie