Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Differences between floor nailer and stapler

My apologies if this has already been answered but I searched in vain to find it. I am going to finish the floors in the house we bought. The flooring is 3.25 in. prefinished maple. I was going to get a stanley bostitch laminated flooring stapler and was just wondering if that would work for what I need to do. I'm not clear exactly on the difference between the stapler and the nailer. Thanks

The Bostitch stapler was designed for stapling laminate flooring to a subfloor. With the advent of "snap-lok" flooring, it's pretty much obsolete.

Are you putting down solid wood flooring or a laminate? For solid wood (3/4"), you need a flooring nailer, which is designed for the thicker, and harder woods involved.

For laminates - not much need....

It depends on your flooring thickness. Some engineered staplers only will go to ½" thick floors. Solid wood can use cleats or staples, if it is over ½" thick. Engineered is staple only even if it is ¾" engineered.

Is this an engineered cross-ply prefinished maple or a solid ¾" maple?

It's 3/4" solid maple. Is there a real difference between staples and cleats? Is one better than the other? Is there a different nailer needed for each or does one nailer work for both?

There are differences between the two. Whatever you have available, don't worry about it. If you get cleats though, be sure to use the Powernail cleat if you can. It has deeper ridges on the shank. The Bostich cleats I looked at seemed ok too. Some of the off-brand cleats are nearly smooth.
Staples have a higher holding power initially, but there is some debate on whether thats necessary or even desirable. They will split the tongue more frequently that cleats. Cost more too.

For 3/4" solid hardwood, 2" cleats are recommended. For installation instructions go to www.nofma.org

Reading over this, I can see that we have totally confused it.

There are two types of staplers. One is for engineered only. It uses small staples with a 3/8"? crown.
The larger stapler is much more substantial and has a 1/2" crown. It is designed for solid hardwood 1/2" and 3/4".
The cleat nailer is for solid only.
The large stapler and cleat are both NOFMA approved for 1/2" and 3/4" solid.

Reading over this, I can see that we have totally confused it.

There are two types of staplers. One is for engineered only. It uses small staples with a 3/8"? crown.
The larger stapler is much more substantial and has a 1/2" crown. It is designed for solid hardwood 1/2" and 3/4".
The cleat nailer is for solid only.
The large stapler and cleat are both NOFMA approved for 1/2" and 3/4" solid.


I second what Marco said, but that last sentence should say "½" through ¾" thickness solid wood". There are many in between thicknesses.

I'll run with the cleats then. Can any hardwood nailer use the cleats?

I second what Marco said, but that last sentence should say "½" through ¾" thickness solid wood". There are many in between thicknesses.

There is? Where are they? Never seen anything in between...

I'll run with the cleats then. Can any hardwood nailer use the cleats?

I don't know how many types of cleat nailers there are but they all use a specified fastener. The most common in a rental shop uses a T style. Most pro nailers shoot an L type as in the shape of the head.

There is? Where are they? Never seen anything in between...

Nevermind! Here I've been laying job after job of 5/8" bamboo. duh...

Hehehe :)

I was fixing to say...

9/16
5/8
11/16
Seen them and played with a few.