
Secret nailing is a method of installing wooden floors. It involves driving a fixing through the tongue of each board into the subfloor or joist below. The tongues are then hidden by the groove of the next board, meaning the fixings are also hidden. This can be done with nails or screws, although screws are becoming more popular as they are easier to reverse.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Secret nailing, blind nailing |
| Definition | A nail-down installation where the nails remain invisible once the floor is laid |
| Method | Nails are driven through the tongue of each board into the subfloor or joist below |
| Tools | A special tool is used to quickly position and fit a special kind of nail into a 45-degree position above the groove of the planks |
| Advantages | Quick, cost-effective, and discreet |
| Disadvantages | Requires specific skills, can cause health and safety issues if not done properly |
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What You'll Learn

Secret nailing is also known as blind nailing
Secret nailing is a traditional method of installing wood floors, but it can be time-consuming and labour-intensive. It involves driving a fixing through the tongue of each board into the subfloor or joist below. As the tongues are covered by the groove of the next board, the fixings are also hidden, resulting in a fixing-free finish.
While nailing is a common technique, using screws is also a popular alternative. Screws can be fixed using a power drill, which is faster and requires less effort. They also allow for easy replacement of damaged boards, as they can be reversed and removed without damaging the board. This makes screws a preferred option for many, despite the higher cost compared to nails.
Overall, secret nailing, or blind nailing, is a discreet and quick process for installing wood floors. It provides a secure and stable fitting while keeping the nails hidden from view. However, it requires specific skills and tools, and other methods, such as using screws, may offer more flexibility and ease of replacement.
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Secret nailing is a nail-down installation
A special tool is used to quickly position and fit a special kind of nail into a 45-degree position above the groove of the planks so that it does not interfere with the fixing of other planks to be fitted next to them. The nailing down floor installation method requires specific skills as it can cause health and safety issues unless it is done properly with all nails perfectly hidden.
Nailing is a traditional method of secretly installing wood floors, but using screws is just as popular. Using screws means they can be fixed using a power drill, which takes less effort and time. Screws are also preferred over nailing because they allow for easy replacement of any damaged boards.
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Secret nailing is a traditional method of installing wood floors
To carry out secret nailing, a special tool is used to quickly position and fit a special kind of nail into a 45-degree position above the groove of the planks. This ensures that the nails do not interfere with the fixing of other planks to be fitted next to them. The nailing-down floor installation method requires specific skills as it can cause health and safety issues unless it is done properly with all nails perfectly hidden.
Nowadays, with the introduction of tongue-and-grooved oak boards, the secret screwing/secret nailing method is the most commonly used method of fitting. However, it is worth noting that with wider solid oak flooring boards and when using this method, additional surface fixing may also be required.
While nailing is a traditional method of secretly installing wood floors, using screws is just as popular. Screws can be fixed using a power drill, which takes less effort and time. They also allow for easy replacement of any damaged boards. Therefore, if you want to ensure you can replace them, screws are preferred over nailing.
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Secret nailing is a quick process
Secret nailing is applicable for any tongue-and-groove solid wood or engineered floor installation. This method uses a special tool, which quickly positions and fits a special kind of nail into a 45-degree position above the groove of the planks so that it does not interfere or bother the fixing of other planks to be fitted next to them.
The nailing down floor installation method requires specific skills as it can cause health and safety issues unless it is done properly with all nails perfectly hidden. Secret nailing involves nailing the boards to the floor so the nails do not show—that is, through the tongue area before putting the next board into place. This hides the nails, thus "secret" nailing.
Using screws means they can be fixed using a power drill, which takes less effort and time. Using screws also means you can reverse the screw. This is handy if you need to remove one of the wooden planks for any reason, such as accidental damage. If you wanted to replace a floorboard that’s simply been nailed, you’re more likely to damage the board when trying to remove it. This makes screws a preferred option for many. Once the screws or nails are in place, a new board can then be added as normal.
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Secret nailing is cheaper than using adhesive
Secret nailing is a nail-down installation method, also known as blind nailing, where the nails remain invisible once the floor is laid. It is a quick and cheap process, especially when compared to using adhesive. This is because, with secret nailing, there is no need to wait for adhesives to dry before the floor can be used.
The process involves nailing the boards to the floor so that the nails do not show. This is done by driving a fixing through the tongue of each board into the subfloor or joist below. The tongues are then hidden by the groove of the next board, which also hides the fixings. This method can be used for any tongue-and-groove solid wood or engineered floor installation.
A special tool, such as a portanailer, is used to quickly position and fit a special kind of nail into a 45-degree position above the groove of the planks. This ensures that the nails do not interfere with the fixing of other planks. It is important to note that this method requires specific skills and can cause health and safety issues if not done properly, with all nails perfectly hidden.
While nailing is a traditional method of secretly installing wood floors, using screws is also a popular option. Screws can be fixed using a power drill, which takes less effort and time than nailing. They also allow for easy replacement of any damaged boards, as they can be easily reversed. This is not the case with nailed boards, which are more likely to be damaged when trying to remove them.
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Frequently asked questions
Secret nailing is a nail-down installation method, also known as blind nailing, where the nails remain invisible once the floor is laid.
Secret nailing involves driving a fixing through the tongue of each board into the subfloor or joist below. The tongues are then hidden by the groove of the next board, meaning the fixings are also hidden.
Secret nailing is a quick and cost-effective method of installation. It also produces a fixing-free finish, as the nails are completely hidden from view.
An alternative method of installation is to use screws instead of nails. This allows for easy replacement of any damaged boards, as screws can be reversed, whereas nails are more likely to damage the board when being removed.








































