Levelling Floor Using Hardboard

DirtPoorGuy

Anyone else levelled a floor using hard board, what did you nail it down with and did you encounter any problems?

Having done some research on this I have seen many websites mentioning using copper coated hard board nails, but no explanation why, is there a particular reason why they have to be copper coated?, I have plenty of bags of 25mm oval steel nails which I thought about using but didn't want to go ahead without seeking further explanation regarding the copper coated nails.

ormus

steel nails rust away over time. esp the small ones. they rust quicker.
what are you using as a final finish on the floor?

vax2002

You wont level anything with hardboard, you can use it as a liner, but if you intend to cover it with anything impervious you need flooring grade oil back hardboard.

DirtPoorGuy

I am levelling my kitchen floor and covering it in vinyl.

I can't see how steel nails are going to rust away, I haven't fallen through the floor yet and the flat is 40 years old and all the floorboards are fixed down with steel nails.

The board was bought from a carpet and flooring company, described as pre shrunk.

ormus

all depends on the conditions. if theres moisture present, then rusting will certainly follow.
i know of steel framed houses where the frame has rusted away at the base. (much thicker than your nails).
you would not use plain steel nails on the roofing slates.

ps
boat builders always use copper nails.

har0ld

Kitchen floors will often be exposed to spills and damp - sometimes the problem with steel nails is the rust staining that you get, however the most common issue is when you try to lift the floor in future as you can't easily get old rusty nails out again.
Whenever I have lain vinyl flooring I have used plywood rather than hardboard as it is more stable and you can screw it down which I feel is far better; it is also less likely to suffer from the clapperboard effect that you sometimes get with hardboard and pins (I sometimes even sandwich a layer of laminate foam underlay to help reduce noise and movement further)