I took up two layers of vinyl flooring in preparation for a wood floor. There are small staples all over - probably thousands! They look just like the staples to install the Oak floor, but are much smaller (about 3/8 inch long). We have been pulling them out with pliers and it's taking much too long. Some will simply have to be hammered in because we cannot get them out. I'm wondering if I can hammer all of them into the subfloor (3/4 inch plywood) or do they need to come out. I don't want them to cause problems later with creaking or anything. Along the edges of the underlayment (which has been removed) are two rows of these staples close together.
Thank you for any advice you can provide.
Kay

In a previous post (search for 'Subfloor under sheet vinyl'), Gary wrote that hammering down the staples will be fine.

That post spoke about staples used to hold down underlayment, though I would think a staple is a staple, is a staple; in this regard at least.

We had several staples that could not be removed. They were pounded down well and I could see no way for them to rub through the roofing paper that was set between the sub floor and the hardwood.

There isnt thousands of them.... Its MILLIONS, I really think the vynil guys secretly hate wood flooring guys, using all those staples.

Hammer them down FLUSH, you could do it 3,4,5 times, and still there will be a bunch sticking up when you roll the paper, hammer them down too. near door casings, under cabinets those will need to be pulled for sure (its hard to get close with a hammer)

No, they are just doing their job to spec. Some birch underlayments, have a fastening schedule printed on them, about 2" apart.

Austin, do you do vinyl?

I know the scheduale of the staples, and thats the proper way, but everytime im sitting there hammering away monotonously for hours on end (you know around the edges its a staple every inch, on each side of the seem) I just begin invisioning a vinyl guy with a huge smurk, commenting to his helper on how hes gonna get those hardwood guys LOL.

When I put down 1/4, 3/8ths plywood I staple it the same way as they do, figure if you cant beat em, join em ^_^

Yes, I can do vinyl, but hate it with a passion, so I do not offer it as part of my services.

It's all the different brads, blue nails and three different types of staples on the staircases that drive me crazy. You rip the carpet and pad off the best you can but 25% of it is so well attached one needs to use pliers. At least on floors you can pound them down with a BFH. On stairs, sometimes the risers are so flimsy you cannot beat on them. I really hate demoing carpet on stairs, prepping for hardwood. It's almost as bad as removing thin set from concrete.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!
I've been pulling those stupid things out and my hand really hurts.

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