Serious question, has anyone else switched from a standard 18 gauge nailer to a 16 gauge for thicker engineered floors?

I was installing some 3/4 inch engineered oak in a house in Portland last month and my usual nailer just wasn't getting enough bite. I borrowed a 16 gauge from the guy on the next job and the difference in holding power was huge. The floor felt solid immediately, no squeaks at all. What's your go-to for thicker material?

2 comments

2 Comments

gray_nelson1d ago

Oh man, you're totally right! I made that switch a few years back for anything over half an inch. The 16 gauge just has that extra bit of thickness to really lock the tongue in place. I've used it on some thick bamboo and even wider plank maple with zero callbacks. It's a game changer for stopping those little shifts that cause squeaks later on.

the_hannah23h ago

Yeah, and @gray_nelson is spot on about stopping the shifts. I had a client who INSISTED on reusing their old 5/4 pine subfloor for a new engineered install. My 18 gauge was just skating on that hard old wood. Switched to the 16 and it was like sinking teeth into it. That floor isn't going ANYWHERE. Sometimes the old tools just aren't right for the new job.