Laying Hardwood Floor, Any Tips For Saving My Back?

Dustball

I'm about 200 SF through a 550 SF job laying 2.25" hickory strips. I'm using a pneumatic nailer but it's killing my back being hunched over all the time while moving down the rows. Do you guys have any back saving tips for doing flooring jobs like this?

Thanks,
Dustin

mack9110000

Dustball, try Ibuprofen.

lawndart

Dustball, unfortunately you're just going to have to deal with it. My lower back hurt for the first 3 months when I started installing hardwood Floors. The good news is, that you get used to it after awhile lol. Try the Ibuprofen like Mack suggested.

vwovw

use a half inch wide by 2 1/2 staple instead of the flooring nailer. then get a stool on wheels from a auto supply. or rest your elbows on your knees as you walk and use your hammer and flooring gun as a cane.

PrecisionFloors

Are you racking out or going a row at a time?

__________________
Precision Flooring
(772) 237-9900
Tile, Hardwood, Laminate, and Resilient
Installation, Sales & Repair - "We do it right the FIRST time"

Dustball

I'm going a row at a time (20 foot long rows) and using 1/2" crown x 2" staples. I've decided to take a break from the flooring for a couple days and focus on other projects in the house. I have sciatica from lifting heavy loads in the past and being hunched over isn't helping me much. I'll just do 100 SF a day and pace myself.

For those of you saying to take pills- yes they help but they only mask the problem and doesn't fix it.

Thanks for the input, appreciate it.

ELM

I use knee pads so I can kneel instead of bend.

PrecisionFloors

Dustball, try racking out several rows (10 or so) ahead of you and then go back and staple em all. It gives your back a break from running the gun. It is also faster and you get to see what the finished product will look like ahead of time. Just leave yourself a couple of rows of space for the gun to fit in between what has already been fastened. I also use knee pads and I have the bigfoot shoe on my gun. It has little rollers on it and allows you to roll it down the row without having to pick up the gun every 5 seconds. I just stay down on the floor and actually run the shoe down the boards with my hand. It is easier and faster for me. Being bent over all day is not my idea of a good time...

http://www.bostitch.com/default.asp?...IFS&serialNum=

Here is where I order all of my parts from. The MIIIFoot-Kit is what you want....down at the bottom of the page. Its expensive but well worth it. Makes the gun alot more stable too.

__________________
Precision Flooring
(772) 237-9900
Tile, Hardwood, Laminate, and Resilient
Installation, Sales & Repair - "We do it right the FIRST time"

J DoubleD FLoor

Tis the life of a flooring installer .... but definately try racking them out ... saves on time .... and the back ...

__________________
Quality is not expensive ... It's PRICELESS !!!
www.neoflooringco.com

Dustball

Very helpful, thanks!

woodmagman

Hire some young attractive help and hope the job takes longer then expected

cyepsen

Try changing your stance - 1) spread your legs to lower your waist line, you won't be bending over so far, 2) use some weight-lifting techniques - a) concentrate on tightening your stomach muscles while bent over to support the upper body, and b) pull your shoulder blades together and stick your chest out while bending over.

And say to yourself, "just one more row, just one more row".