Broken hardwood tongues - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Monrovi · 01-02-2009, 12:54 AM

So I have discovered installing hardwood floors is more of a challenge than i thought. I have begun installing brazilian walnut (ipe) and i can see that the tongues are either braking or have tiny fractures. Few have niether. I have experimented with air pressure ending up with the same results. Now I have never installed solid flooring before. Can someone tell me if this is bad having broken tongues or is it nothing to worry about? I am looking for help please. I have 1400 sq ft to do before Jan 16 as well as many other things before I can close out my const loan. Help I am desperate! If I cant figure this out I'll have to hire an installer which i can't afford.

PS I am using 2" cleats for 3/4" flooring over 3/4" CDX.

jamestrd · 01-02-2009, 01:55 AM

make sure your nails are spaced at 10" apart in case you are driving too many nails closer together..

no worries as long as you arent breaking the toungues off completely.

try positioning the nailer at little more of an angle( base not sitting square on flooring)

what type of mailer are you using?

Brazilioan hardwoods are very dense and hard..this may be your issue..
no worries

Jerry T · 01-02-2009, 04:35 AM

You need to stop and figure out a remedy. Split tongues can lead to loose/squeaky floors down the road. I use staples on BC and Tigerwood because they too will split easily. Even then i have to play with around with the air pressure and apply one or more layers of tape on the footplate to change the angle a bit.

I have a friend who will only use cleats and he drizzles some 3in1 oil on the tips before loading the gun. He swears by that method.

Monrovi · 01-02-2009, 10:23 AM

Ok so it sounds like angle might be what I need to play with, along with air pressure. The tongues aren't breaking off completely but I am worried about what u mentioned Jerry. Squeky floors. Now I wouldn't mind the occasional one hear and there but I defenently don't want the floor to sound like an old western bar floor. I am siding today during the daylight so I will try your suggestions this evening. I'll post again tonight give u the update. (let u know if I am pulling my hair out). Oh jamestrd the nailer is a bostich. Thanks

astor · 01-04-2009, 01:20 PM

It is normal that some splitting will occur with any exotic flooring,taping a shim at the bottom of the plate will angle the nailer further and eliminate some of them,since the staple/cleat driven an angle;the tongue is not only one holding the board into subfloor, you can break the split tongue carefully(you may need chisel to cut)and see yourself the board is still nailed to the subfloor and board holding strong.Other than angling the nailer, any split tongue should be broken to eliminate fitting problem.It will not cause squeaks.

Monrovi · 01-06-2009, 01:23 AM

Well i have begun my flooring project. it is going ok. Been a learning experience! IPE probably wasn't the best wood to learn with but I am getting it. Got about 450 sq ft down so far. I sure like the variation in colors. For you professional installers how many sq ft do u lay on an average day working by yourself?

jamestrd · 01-06-2009, 07:53 AM

depends on type of floor.

a qualified installer should be able to install minimally 500sf a day to be hired by me(21/4)

when i was in my hay day, I used to install 7-800 sf a day in new construction.

I have installed 1200 31/4 in a day

Monrovi · 01-06-2009, 10:06 AM

Holy cow! Thats a lot of flooring per day.