 
Key to
Oak Flooring Performance
Hardwood flooring is a quality product made from kiln-dried
hardwood lumber. Like all kiln-dried products, it requires reasonable care in
storage, handling, and installation. NOFMA Members' Oak Flooring is manufactured
at 6-9% moisture content with a 5% allowance for pieces outside that range, up
to 12%, and to fit a "GO NO-GO" NOFMA flooring gauge. To insure that the
moisture content is maintained:
Flooring should not be unloaded or transported in rain, snow or
excessively humid conditions. If the atmosphere is foggy or damp, cover with a
tarpaulin.
Before delivery check the job site. The flooring should not be exposed to
high humidity or moisture. Direct surface drainage away from the building.
Basements and crawl spaces must be dry and well ventilated. In joist
construction, outside cross ventilation through vents or other openings in the
foundation walls must be provided with no dead air areas. A ground cover of 6
mil polyethylene film is essential as a moisture retarder.
Before flooring is delivered to the job site the building should be closed in
with outside windows and doors in place. All concrete, masonry, sheetrock, and
framing members should be thoroughly dry. In warm months the
building must be well ventilated; during winter months heating
should be maintained near occupancy levels at least five days before flooring is
delivered and until sanding and finishing are completed.
THE FOLLOWING STEPS ARE ESSENTIAL
 | Check for these conditions and if they exist correct them before delivering
flooring: water or excess moisture underneath or in the house; green or wet subfloors or joists. Check for moisture retarder
of 6 mil polyethylene over the earth in crawl spaces. |
| Plywood subfloor, or board subfloor and joists, should be clean, straight
and thoroughly dry. Subfloor boards should be 6" wide or less,
laid diagonally and spaced approximately 1/4" - 3/8" apart. Plywood subfloor
panels should be spaced and nailed according to the manufacturers
recommendations. |
| PROPER NAILING OF THE SUBFLOOR & FLOORING IS
ESSENTIAL. Floors and/or subfloors not properly nailed may become
loose,squeak and buckle. (See Nail Schedule below.)
Gluing plywood to joists with an approved construction adhesive strengthens the
subfloor and helps maintain a quiet subfloor system. |
| SUBFLOORS - with 3/4" strip flooring use either kiln-dried boards of NO. 1
or NO. 2 Common Pine or other dense, Group 1 Softwoods suitable for subfloors
over wood joists, or exterior plywood. If plywood, 5/8"
(19/32") or 3/4" (23/32") performance rated products are preferred. Also, 3/4" (23/32") OSB is a comparable substrate.
With 1/2" thick strip flooring use a 3/4" (23/32") subfloor. Nailing flooring
strips 8" - 10" apart is the preferred nailing schedule.
Flooring strips (no matter what length) should contain a MINIMUM of 2 nails.
Nail all pieces within 1" - 3" of the ends. |
| INSULATE OVER HEATING PLANT & UN-INSULATED HEAT DUCTS. Use a double
layer of 15 lb. or a single layer of 30 lb. asphalt felt or building paper; OR 1/2" standard insulation board between joists. Over a
heating plant the insulation used should be non-flammable. |
| Provide adequate expansion space next to all vertical surfaces, otherwise
buckled floors may result. |
| NAILING SCHEDULE
NOFMA Hardwood Flooring Must be installed over a proper
subfloor.*
Tongue
& Groove Flooring is blind nailed on the Tongue Edge with face nailing
required on starting runs (1-2) and finishing runs (2-4).
Square Edge
Flooring is face nailed.
Inadequate nailing contributes to cracks and noisy
floors by allowing movement of the flooring.
* (Use 1 1/2" fasteners with 3/4" plywood subfloor on a concrete slab. A
concrete slab with screeds 12" o.c. does not always require a subfloor.) |
| SIZE FLOORING |
SIZE NAIL TO BE USED |
SPACING |
3/4" thick T & G
Strip
x 1 1/2", 2 1/4"
through 3
1/4"
Plank
4" - 8"
|
2" barbed flooring cleat,*
7d or 8d flooring nail, or
2" 15
gauge staples with 1/2" crowns*
2" barbed flooring cleat,*
7d or 8d
flooring nail, or
2" 15 gauge staples with 1/2" crowns*
|
10" - 12" apart
8" - 10" preferred
8"
apart
|
Blind nail along the length of strip/plank and near the ends
(1"-3").
Minimum of 2 nails per strip/plank.
(Plank flooring may require
face nailing and/or screws for additional fastening)
Follow
Manufacturer's Instructions for installation of Plank Flooring.
Widths 4" and
over must be installed on a proper subfloor. |
| SIZE FLOORING |
SIZE NAIL TO BE USED |
SPACING |
1/2" thick T & G STRIP
x 1 1/2" & 2"
3/8" thick
T&G STRIP
x 1 1/2" & 2"
|
1 1/2" barbed flooring cleat,
5d screw, cut steel, or wire casing
nail
1 1/4" barbed flooring cleat,
4d bright wire casing nail
|
10" apart
8" apart
|
| Must install over proper subfloor |
| SIZE FLOORING |
SIZE NAIL TO BE USED |
SPACING |
5/16" SQUARE-EDGE
(Not Tongue & Grooved)
x 1 1/2" &
2"
x 1 1/3"
|
1" 15 gauge fully barbed flooring brad
1" 15 gauge
barbed flooring brad
|
2 nails every 7"
1 nail every 5"
on alternate
sides of strip. |
Follow Manufacturer's Instruction for installing Square Edge
Flooring.
Must install over a subfloor |
| (Do not mix types of fasteners when blind nailing the field,
except near walls where hand nailing is required.) |
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