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Hardwood floor install: nail heads visible, what now?

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Hardwood floor install: nail heads visible, what now? google 07-22-2007
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Posted by on July 22, 2007, 10:34 pm
Hi all,

A floor installer has just finished installing new unfinished hardwood
on the floor of our apartment. The floor has been sanded, but no
polyurethane has been put down yet.

The base floor is concrete.

Due to concerns about the total height of the floor, we used 5/8''
plywood as the subfloor instead of 3/4''. The flooring is 3/4''
thick.

The problem is that, on the boards that were face nailed, the nail
heads are right at the surface of the wood. So in the midst of our
nice cherry floors, silver nail heads gleam in the light. We're told
this is because the floor is not thick enough to do anything else.

We'd like to ask the installer "why didn't you mention this before?"
But that's not exactly constructive.

So the question is: what now? It's not the nail heads that bother
us, it's that they are silver and shiny. Can we color them? If so,
with what? It seems like it would be tough to punch the nails
deeper. But is that possible? How should it have been done? Screws
and plugs? If so, can the nails be pulled out at this point?

Thanks in advance!


Posted by Joe on July 23, 2007, 12:09 am
On Jul 22, 9:34 pm, goo...@chicagoits.com wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> A floor installer has just finished installing new unfinished hardwood
> on the floor of our apartment. The floor has been sanded, but no
> polyurethane has been put down yet.
>
> The base floor is concrete.
>
> Due to concerns about the total height of the floor, we used 5/8''
> plywood as the subfloor instead of 3/4''. The flooring is 3/4''
> thick.
>
> The problem is that, on the boards that were face nailed, the nail
> heads are right at the surface of the wood. So in the midst of our
> nice cherry floors, silver nail heads gleam in the light. We're told
> this is because the floor is not thick enough to do anything else.
>
> We'd like to ask the installer "why didn't you mention this before?"
> But that's not exactly constructive.
>
> So the question is: what now? It's not the nail heads that bother
> us, it's that they are silver and shiny. Can we color them? If so,
> with what? It seems like it would be tough to punch the nails
> deeper. But is that possible? How should it have been done? Screws
> and plugs? If so, can the nails be pulled out at this point?
>
> Thanks in advance!

Don't worry about how it should have been done. Your concern now is
having the mistake corrected. Do not allow any finish work on the
floor until the nails are gone and the holes filled to your
satisfaction. Read over your contract, and if possible withhold any
further payment until it is done right. Contact a lawyer , BBB,
whoever you feel can assist if there is reluctance to make it right.
The installer must have used 1 1/2" nails and he could have as easily
used a shorter nail or screw or snipped off what he had with side
cutters given the small number needed. Sounds like an inexperienced
box store job to me.

Joe


Posted by longshot on July 23, 2007, 6:15 am
ask the installer what he can do. It may very well be possible to punch them
down lower. & fill the holes. that would be my first choice. it also would
be pretty simple to color them, A black or red sharpie would do a nice job.

> On Jul 22, 9:34 pm, goo...@chicagoits.com wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> A floor installer has just finished installing new unfinished hardwood
>> on the floor of our apartment. The floor has been sanded, but no
>> polyurethane has been put down yet.
>>
>> The base floor is concrete.
>>
>> Due to concerns about the total height of the floor, we used 5/8''
>> plywood as the subfloor instead of 3/4''. The flooring is 3/4''
>> thick.
>>
>> The problem is that, on the boards that were face nailed, the nail
>> heads are right at the surface of the wood. So in the midst of our
>> nice cherry floors, silver nail heads gleam in the light. We're told
>> this is because the floor is not thick enough to do anything else.
>>
>> We'd like to ask the installer "why didn't you mention this before?"
>> But that's not exactly constructive.
>>
>> So the question is: what now? It's not the nail heads that bother
>> us, it's that they are silver and shiny. Can we color them? If so,
>> with what? It seems like it would be tough to punch the nails
>> deeper. But is that possible? How should it have been done? Screws
>> and plugs? If so, can the nails be pulled out at this point?
>>
>> Thanks in advance!
>
> Don't worry about how it should have been done. Your concern now is
> having the mistake corrected. Do not allow any finish work on the
> floor until the nails are gone and the holes filled to your
> satisfaction. Read over your contract, and if possible withhold any
> further payment until it is done right. Contact a lawyer , BBB,
> whoever you feel can assist if there is reluctance to make it right.
> The installer must have used 1 1/2" nails and he could have as easily
> used a shorter nail or screw or snipped off what he had with side
> cutters given the small number needed. Sounds like an inexperienced
> box store job to me.
>
> Joe
>



Posted by CWatters on July 23, 2007, 6:51 am

> The problem is that, on the boards that were face nailed, the nail
> heads are right at the surface of the wood.

So it's just a few boards. Normally these are at the edge of a room of
similar.
Ask him if he can punch the heads below the surface and fill the holes. Fill
ONE hole and check what you think of the colour match. Be prepared to pay
for a few different pots of filler and consider mixing to get the right
match.



Posted by marson on July 23, 2007, 7:30 am
On Jul 23, 5:51 am, "CWatters"
>
> > The problem is that, on the boards that were face nailed, the nail
>
> > heads are right at the surface of the wood.
>
> So it's just a few boards. Normally these are at the edge of a room of
> similar.
> Ask him if he can punch the heads below the surface and fill the holes. Fill
> ONE hole and check what you think of the colour match. Be prepared to pay
> for a few different pots of filler and consider mixing to get the right
> match.

Contacting a lawyer because a floor installer didn't set his nails?
Would it be a criminal case or a civil case?

Are you having the floor professionally sanded/finished? Call the
installer back to set the nails if you want--seems easier to me to
just buy a 2 dollar nail set at the hardware store and do it
yourself. Less frustrating. Then, your finisher should be able to
putty the holes. You tend to look at new work with a microscope.
Once your furniture is moved back in etc, are these nails even going
to be an issue?



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