Beyond choosing your wood species, stain, and finish, there's another decision that affects durability, cost, and which floors are even possible in your home: how the flooring is physically installed. Here are the four main installation methods used in hardwood, engineered, and laminate flooring today.
Nail-Down
The traditional method for solid hardwood over a wood subfloor (plywood or OSB). After the flooring acclimates, boards are blind-nailed at a 45° angle through the tongue into the subfloor below — invisible once installed. A damaged board can later be removed and replaced individually without disturbing the rest of the floor. This is still the preferred method for solid hardwood whenever the subfloor allows it.
Staple-Down
Similar in concept to nail-down, but using pneumatic staples instead of cleats. Staples have slightly different holding characteristics than nails — the correct staple length and crown width matter for a tight, squeak-free installation. We choose between nail and staple based on the specific flooring product's tongue profile and manufacturer specifications.
Glue-Down (Full Spread)
Adhesive is spread across the entire subfloor before the flooring is set into it. This is the standard method for engineered wood over concrete, and is required for most wide plank installations (4"+) regardless of species, since wider boards need more holding strength across their surface to stay stable. Full-spread glue typically adds $1.00/sq ft to labor compared to nail-down.
Floating Floor
Planks click together (or are glued at the seams only) and "float" over a foam underlayment — not attached to the subfloor at all. This is common for engineered wood and laminate, especially in basements or over concrete where moisture is a concern, since the floating layer adds a buffer against minor subfloor movement. It's also typically the fastest method to install.
Which method is right for your project? It depends on your flooring type, subfloor material, and where in the home you're installing. Solid hardwood over a wood subfloor almost always means nail-down or staple-down. Engineered wood over concrete typically means glue-down or floating. We assess your subfloor and product during the on-site evaluation and recommend the method that gives the most stable, long-lasting result — not just the fastest one.
Related Reading
If you're considering engineered wood specifically — which uses glue-down or floating installation most often — see our Engineered Wood Flooring service page for where it makes sense and typical pricing. For solid hardwood installation costs across nail-down and staple-down methods, see our Installation Cost Guide.
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