Hardwood Floors August/September 2025

TECHNICAL PUBLICATION RESOURCES

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For additional information, check out the NWFA's Technical Guidelines at NWFA.ORG/TECHNICAL- GUIDELINES/.

FASTENER SCHEDULE

Wood Flooring Type

Fastener Type 18g-20g cleat or narrow crowned staple (not less than 1 ¼” length) 15.5g staple or 16-18g cleat (not less than 1 ½” length) 15.5g staple or 16-18g cleat (not less than 1 ½” length) 15.5g staple or 16-18g cleat (not less than 1 ½” length) 18g cleat or staple (not less than 1 ½” length) 18g-20g cleat or narrow crowned staple (not less than 1 ¼” length ) 15g flooring brads (not less than 1 ” length)

Fastener Spacing 3 ” -4 ” spacing 1 ” -2 ” from each end Minimum 2/board

Engineered (<5/8 ” )

Engineered ( ≥ 5/8 ” )

6 ” -8 ” spacing 1 ” -3 ” from each end Minimum 2/board 8 ” -10 ” spacing 1 ” -3 ” from each end Minimum 2/board 6 ” -8 ” spacing 1 ” -3 ” from each e nd Minimum 2/board 6 ” -8 ” spacing 1 ” -3 ” from each e nd Minimum 2/board 3 ” -4 ” spacing 1 ” -2 ” from each end Minimum 2/board

Solid ¾” strip

Solid ¾” plank

Solid >1/2 ” to <3/4 ” strip

Solid ≤ 1/2 ” strip

5/16 ” top -nail

1 for every inch-width of flooring every 6½ ” -7 ”

Source: NWFA Wood Flooring Installation Guidelines (revised 2019).

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