I live about 40 miles outside of Chicago IL and I am getting ready install 5/8" 4.75 wide solid wood flooring on the 1st floor of my home over a plywood subfloor.

Because of the wide temperature range and humidity levels we experience throughout the year in this area it was recommended that with the width of the planks we both glue and nail the hardwood to provide a better hold to the sub floor. So I have the adhesive and the cleats and am drafting my plan of attack for the work ahead.

Having never used an adhesive for installing wood flooring and since I am also nailing the hardwood I was curious if I should follow the adhesive manufacturers recommendation for the application of the adhesive for the width of the planks or if would be ok to use a smaller application since its a secondary bond?

For a 5/8" thick board its suggested to use 1/8 x 1/4 x 1/4 notched trowel which would apply more adhesive which I suspect would be needed if it was the only thing securing the floor. Since it is not and since I will also be nailing the boards I was thinking about going with what is recommended for 1/2" thick boards which is 3/16 x 5/32.

Is what I am thinking make sense?

Has anyone else used both glue and nails and if so can you provide any additional recommendations?

Thanks!
David

The company I'm working with for the last couple of weeks is doing 5/8" x 7" pre-finished, and we're both nailing and gluing. We're not applying the adhesive so heavily, as it's more insurance than it is primary bond. So here is one vote for not having to lay on the mastic too thick.

We're laying over a radiant heat floor. I don't know whether that affects the decision to go lighter on the glue.

I'd stick with the mans recommendation unless you start having issues like glue oozing out to much. Why risk it? Some other manufacturers will let you get away with a squiggle down the length or several side to side lines from tube adhesives. Call the wood mans tech dept and ask.