There are 3 key fixing methods for traditional solid timber floors:

Secret Nailing: is when a nail is driven through the tongue of the floorboard into the sub-floor. It can be used when fitting to chipboard / plywood battons & joists to fix traditional boards up to150mm and Strata boards up to 200mm.

Face Fixing: is when a screw or nail is fixed through the face of the floorboards into the sub-floor. It should be used in addition to secret nailing for traditional solid boards over 150mm.

Glueing: requires specialist adhesives such as Bonakemi R850 or Sika T54. It can be used to fix traditional boards up to 150mm and Strata boards to 200mm subject to fitting guidelines.

Which will be suitable / required will depend on your sub-floor and the product you choose. See each fixing method for further details and individual product specifications for the suitability of each method.

Floating: this method is only suitable for Broadleaf Strata Oak boards and involves laying the floor over a structural subfloor rather than fixing to it. A fibreboard underlay is required and the tongue & groove joints of the boards should be glued using Bona D700 (Glueclic).