Are Mallets OK for Engineered Wood Flooring?

Do I need to employ a mallet made of rubber while making engineered flooring?

Tim McCool, technical director at West Plains, Mo.-based The Master’s Craft Tim McCool, technical director at The Master’s Craft in West Plains,

I recently took care of a case about this subject. The seller claimed that it is the norm in the industry to use a mallet made of rubber for installing engineered flooring; however, the directions from the manufacturer of the case state:

“Never strike a rubber mallet or hammer directly on the flooring to engage the tongue-and-groove. This practice can damage the flooring and the finish. Use a tapping block if necessary.”

It also got me interested in reviewing other manufacturers’ guidelines. I looked up at least 5 other big wood flooring companies. I found similar warnings against hitting your flooring using a mallet with numerous references to “striking the surface with a rubber mallet may ‘burn’ the finish, causing irreparable damage” and that it could “mark or damage the flooring.”

As someone who has worked in the wood flooring business for over 40 years now, I am familiar with the usage of the mallet of rubber to engage the tongue-and-groove when installing glue-down, nail/staple down, and even sometimes while floating an engineered floor has been (as the dealer claimed) an accepted practice. When I was contracting, I owned a variety of mallets made of rubber, with various sizes, weights, and densities to fit the flooring I was putting in. However, using multiple kinds of wood floors engineered, I could utilize my mallet for my tapping block rather than on the flooring itself.

Manufacturers advise against using a mallet made of rubber because there are numerous types of mallets made from rubber, ranging from soft to complex, with various colors and styles of rubber. Some are too tough and may break the floor. Others are too soft and leave rubber leftovers across the floor. Others leave burn marks on the floor’s finish. Even if that doesn’t happen, the adhesive may get on the mallet head and then get transferred to the surface of the floor, and without proper cleanup, adhesive residue cures on the surface or in the wire brushing/texture. With all the different types of finishes and textures the manufacturers are producing today, it’s not a “one mallet for any floor” solution. The manufacturer will not warrant an installation in the event of damage to the flooring wood by using a mallet made of rubber. Therefore, you must utilize a tapping block or the suggested installation method. Mainly, with the next wave of scraped and wire-brushed flooring and the various types of finishes available, it’s prudent to be extra vigilant and shield yourself from any liability.