I'm installing a new 7/8'' thick poplar floor (we like the grain and the price). I know that poplar is softer than oak, but I'm sure that it's harder that any of the pine flooring materials.
I want to use 2 brads shot in at a 45 degree angle on the edges, and a thin bead of liquid nails between each board. (the edges are not tongue and groved, just straight)
Is this installation OK?
I'm using rosin paper over the particle board subfloor.
Do you just staple the rosin paper to the subfloor?
What's the best way to fill in and finish the nail holes?
Thanks for your help.
Poplar is soft for flooring. It is rated 600 on the Janka hardness scale as compared to 1290 for red oak. The softer the wood, the more easily it dings and dents.
Tongue and groove hardwood flooring is preferred. 8# minimum roofing felt, overlapped and stapled, is preferred. Wood glue and sawdust mixture can be used to fill nail holes or purchase a filler. Liquid nails makes a wood floor adhesive. Flooring cleats are preferred because they do not back out.
Go to the National Oak Flooring Manufacturer's website at www.nofma.org and click publications. You can download the technical manual on hardwood flooring installation for free.
just wondering........
how will that floor be able to expand contract? or any nailed-down floor, for that matter?
and is particle board okay as a subfloor for solid wood? (i thought not because it won't hold the fasteners?)
How wide are the boards? Where they kiln dried?
IMO polplar is fine for a shop or shed floor but I'd be leary of using it in a house, especially when they are just butted up to each other.
Good point about the particleboard. I overlooked that. Particleboard is not an appropriate subfloor. Plywood and OSB are. Particleboard is saw dust and glue and will not hold nails. See www.nofma.org.
Tags: poplar, flooring, hardwood flooring, nail holes, particle board, rosin paper
