The Best Nails for Installation of Particle Board Flooring

Before Nailing the Floor

• Before nailing down the particle board subfloor, apply a heavy bead of contractor's grade construction adhesive to the top edge of the floor joists. The construction adhesive will work with the nails to prevent this subfloor from pulling loose and squeaking after installation. Lay out the subfloor 4-by-8 panels so that the long edge of the panels runs across the floor joists, and the short 4-ft. edge of the panel lays along the center of a floor joist. Make sure to stagger the joints for maximum strength.

Traditional Hammer and Nails

• When fastening the subfloor with traditional nails, choose a ring shank flooring nail at least 2 inches in length. The ring shank design on the nail will "grab" or grip the floor joist much better than a smooth surface nail. A ring shank nail is less likely to pull out of the flooring or work itself loose over time.

Framing Gun Fasteners

• If using any air-powered framing nailer or a compressor-less, cordless framing nailer, also select a ring-shank nail at least 2 inches long. The advantage of using an air-powered framing gun is the rate at which the flooring is installed. A framing gun drives nails as fast as you tap the nailer across the floor. A framing gun also drives the head of the nail beneath the surface of the wood subfloor. This increases the nails' holds in the wood and eliminates any complications when installing underlayment or laminate flooring.

High-Traffic Areas

• The biggest issue to consider when installing particle board subfloors is the likelihood that the nails will eventually work loose. When this happens, the floors squeak every time a person walks across the affected area. For high-traffic areas, such as the main hallway or entry near the front and rear doors, consider screwing the subfloor to the floor joists with 2-1/2-inch, coarse thread, all-purpose screws. These hardened steel, bugle head, Phillips-drive screws drive easily into the hard particle board subfloor with a cordless and a Phillips screwdriver bit tip. These screws will not work loose and will prevent the subfloor from squeaking.