Hardwood Floors December 2025/January 2026

By Don Jewell

PHOTO COURTESY OF NWFA

WHEN NAILS ARE THE ASSIST If nails are secondary, the adhesive becomes the star of the show. This means: • Using the correct adhesive for the flooring material. • Following the recommended trowel size and achieving the specified coverage rate. In these cases, the nailing pattern is less critical. Nails typically are used to pull in crooked planks or stabilize boards during curing. Again, your adhesive representative is your best resource for technical advice.

Ends and grooves pattern applies adhesive to the subfloor or to the underside of the board in the location within 1” from both ends of the board and along the full length of the back, groove-side of the board. Lengthwise parallel stripes pattern applies adhesive to the subfloor or to the underside of the board in the location within 1” of each long side edge and down the middle of the board. Cross-grain trowel pulls approximately every 12” to 18”. Full trowel coverage or using a stand-up specialty applicator. Regardless of the method, always consult your adhesive manufacturer’s technical team for the best approach. Their guidance ensures proper coverage and compatibility with your flooring type.

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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