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Remodeling Flooring Home Repair

New Wood Floors Have Nail Holes, normal??

5 years ago

We just got brand new wood floors installed. Mercier prefinished Maple. Installer said one of the tools used to install makes nail holes on the edges then he will use touch up kit to repair. He hasn’t repaired yet but wondering if this is normal for a prefinished wood flooring install? Seems weird to have all these holes in a brand new floor.

Featured Answer

User

5 years ago

Typical for tongue and groove. As the installation nears a wall, it becomes impossible to use a pneumatic nail gun (or swing a hammer), so the nails must be driven through the face of the last strips. The piece by the carpet is face nailed because it's not tied in on both sides with other planks and needs the extra fastening. Once the nail holes are filled, you'll never notice them.

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Comments (9)

HU-666381284
Original Author
5 years ago
Any thoughts??
PRO
G & S Floor Service
5 years ago
Yes normal, but can be filled. They could have used adhesive for close out rows, for a more nailless install.
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When we purchased our home we decided to get the wood (oak) floors refinished. There were nail holes- and plenty of them, the tech did put some kind of wood filler in the holes before they refinished them. Hope this helps!
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toxcrusadr
5 years ago
"...one of the tools used to install makes nail holes..."

That would be a nailer I assume. Duh. Seems like a weird way for the installer to describe it. He could have just said they have to nail the strips near the wall since it is the only way to fasten them securely. Communication, what a concept!
PRO
Uptown Floors
5 years ago
I've never been fond of gluing the last few parallel to wall rows on a nail down, unless it's an engineered. No where for the floor to expand if it wants to. Now, Sye (G&S) may work in well maintained climate controlled homes, but for many it's not advisable.
PRO
G & S Floor Service
5 years ago
Expansion gaps is different from using adhesives as a fastener. I was skeptical about the product working at first, also. But if, you are using the correct type of adhesive (Silane based polymer) for solid wood. The flooring will be able to expand and contract as needed. The adhesive never hardens. Polyurethane adhesives are brittle, after it is cured. Not recommended for solid wood flooring. The conditions do have to meet the adhesive mfg's guidelines, though.
HU-666381284
Original Author
5 years ago
This is how it turned out. Still see the holes, maybe because I am looking for them but seems like the cover up could be better?
cat_ky
5 years ago
Looks a bit like the stain color and putty color are not the right match. However, he did a neat job of filling. If it were my floors, I would want a better color match though.
User
5 years ago
"seems like the cover up could be better?"

Yes it could! Have you spoken with them? Perhaps they plan to come back and stain the filler? If not, let them know this is unacceptable. It's an easy fix and won't take over a few minutes.

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