I have a real dilemma - I posted a query recently regarding my Victorian floor boards which were on suspended joists but all has been removed due to damp, now due to be refitted on to concrete insulated floor with battens inset – I was asking if a nail gun would be best rather than the original style brads, but now realise the nail gun style brads are way too small (2mm heads). Basically, I've been told the shrinkage in the timber will rip through the heads and I'll be hammering down boards forever! This is 2 large reception rooms and a 12m hallway so a fair amount of timber.
So... to add to the situ, the heat has been off in the home for 18 months, plus a severe amount of plastering undertaken, mostly down to bare brick so a lot of moisture in the home. No boiler reconnected as yet so no heating system to warm the house (Northern Ireland, on the sea front to make things worse!!)
So my question is, now that I know I'm manually hammering the boards down with either brads or rink shank nails (can manually flatten the heads to make easier to centre punch into the timber so sander doesn't catch), how long do I need to leave the boards before I can lay them, and presumably I need to get the heat on or is just being inside ok (presume the latter is not an option)?
Any help gratefully appreciated.
Cheers
So... to add to the situ, the heat has been off in the home for 18 months, plus a severe amount of plastering undertaken, mostly down to bare brick so a lot of moisture in the home. No boiler reconnected as yet so no heating system to warm the house (Northern Ireland, on the sea front to make things worse!!)
So my question is, now that I know I'm manually hammering the boards down with either brads or rink shank nails (can manually flatten the heads to make easier to centre punch into the timber so sander doesn't catch), how long do I need to leave the boards before I can lay them, and presumably I need to get the heat on or is just being inside ok (presume the latter is not an option)?
Any help gratefully appreciated.
Cheers