One of the appeals of click-lock hardwood floors is that they are extremely easy to install. The planks click right into place assisted only by their click-valve mechanism, and the floor is often ready to use within a matter of hours. Nailers, staplers, and adhesives aren’t needed, and most floating, click-lock hardwood floors are prefinished.
The simplicity of this process makes this type of flooring a favorite of homeowners who would rather not deal with a lengthy hardwood floor installation.
But the simplicity of installation is counterbalanced by a single drawback of click-lock flooring: bounce.
Because the entire floor floats above the subfloor and acts as a single unit once the planks are locked into place, the hardwood floor can have a bouncy quality to it once installed. The amount of bounce also depends on the subfloor. Even the most thorough contractor, preparing the subfloor flat (1/8” in ten feet), can have a floor exhibit the bounce.
Luckily, this bounce isn’t necessary if you introduce the right tool into the equation. Using a specially designed cleat nailer, you can reduce the bounce in click-lock floors by fastening the top of the floor to the floor’s plywood layer.
The Powernail 2000 is the perfect tool for reducing bounce in floating floors because it’s the only trigger-operated nailer in the industry that shoots 1 to 1-1/4-inch 20-gauge cleat nails. These cleats in particular prevent split-out in the thin, grooves of click-plank flooring.
The Powernail 2000 glides along the “female side” of the click-lock floor, allowing you to engage the trigger and smoothly fasten the floor as you go. It provides precise depth control and an excellent insertion angle.
Although the Powernail 2000 is extremely compatible with click-lock flooring, it’s a versatile tool. The tool’s adjustable foot allows you to use it with either solid or engineered hardwood flooring from 9/16th to 5/16th of an inch thick.
The nailer has a ¼-inch APT valve, and its adjustable exhaust air port allows you to prevent dust and debris from blowing into other areas of your workspace.
Next time you’re facing a click-lock flooring installation, you should consider using the Powernail 2000 to reduce the bounce in the final product.
If you’re interested in more information or you would like to order the Powernail 2000, click here or contact us at (610) 940-5757. You can also check out our Youtube video about the Powernail 2000.
