When installing laminated strip flooring, which tool is used to drive tongues into grooves?

Using a tapping block is the correct choice when installing laminated strip flooring. This tool is specifically designed to help drive the tongues of the flooring planks into the grooves of adjacent planks without damaging their edges. The tapping block distributes the force of the blow from a hammer or mallet evenly across the surface of the plank, protecting the laminate material from dents or chips that may occur if struck directly.

A rubber mallet, while suitable for various tapping tasks, does not provide the same level of protection as a tapping block since it can come into direct contact with the flooring’s surface. A hammer can be used in conjunction with a tapping block, but striking a plank directly with a hammer is not advisable as it risks damaging the flooring material. A chisel is not relevant to this purpose, as it is primarily used for cutting or shaping wood rather than for joining flooring pieces together. Thus, the tapping block is the tool that ensures a secure and safe fit between the laminated flooring strips.