Subflooring over concrete

OK Guys I am almost ready, unitl I went to Home Depot and got kind of confused again by the guy at the tool rental center.

I asked him which tool should I rent to attach the plywood subfloor to the concrete I have inmy first floor and he said I cannot use any hydraulic stapler or naile becasue they will not drive the nails through the concrete. So he suggested to shoot the nails down with another machine. The problem was the nails this machine use are $ 6.00 per 20 nail pack. Is this correct. Or, he said, buy concrete nails and hammered them down. Putting nails every 4 to 6 inches in the plywood with a hammer is not something I look forward to.

Please tell me if I can use a nailer/stapler and if I have to look at some minimum HP on the machine. I have a compressor.

Piru

PS after this one and off! And then I will let you know guys.

 

P:

I've been there pounding concrete cut nails and it ain't any fun! There is a cool tool for such a project named the aerosmith, but I'm sure you'll have a hard time finding one...BUT ya never know. A standard smaller compressor won't work with it, as it needs alot of juice.

You could predrill with a hammer drill and use cut nails or opt for tapcons.

 

Thanks Ken:
I went yesterday through all posts here from last year and I saw this thread in which Scott Stephens, twelpole and also you considered leaving the plywood subfloor floating without fastening it to the concrete. Is that something that I could consider also?
Thanks again,
Piru

 

P:

Two layers of 1/2" was probably mentioned? Sure you can go with that method. Run the second layer opposite the first and overlap the seams. Leave 1/4" spacing between the ply and 3/4" around all vertical obstructions.