Hardwood floor inlay - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Platinum8 · 02-18-2009, 07:42 PM

Hey fellas,

I am about to start a hardwood floor job and they want to do maple floors with a cherry inlay. I am using prefinished floors, 3 1/4" wide boards. I wanted some of your opinions. Should I picture frame around the room with the maple or should I just run it in one direction even on the short ends? I think I want to picture frame it and if so how many times should I go around before the inlay? I was thinking about 3 wraps.

Also how do you guys start? Do you start with outer picture frame or should i start in the middle with all the boards running in one direction and screw some strappin to floor where my inlay is going?

Thanks in advance!!

jamestrd · 02-18-2009, 08:39 PM

as Bob Ross used to say "it's your world"

if you do a border, then start with the field first..measure out where you border will start and lay just beyond this point.

you can use a dummy board as a guide where your border will start....

insert cherry inlay( I assume you mean feature strip) where you want in placed in the border. then you can zip the other side

since pre finished,

apply tape to where you will be cutting and use a quality cross cutting blade.(prevents splintering of finish)..router in a groove and install slip toungue.

then start your border.

border size is subjective, but should fit to the size of the room..
always a preference..

s. donato · 02-18-2009, 09:04 PM

i did a cherry with maple inlay ;-)
http://picasaweb.google.com/saldonat...83341639653362

i make sure i lay the flooring square to the most noticeable feature of the room. i usually snap reference lines all over the place. i use my 4 point laser to square out the room. good luck i can't wait to see the pics of it.

Cdat · 02-19-2009, 07:04 AM

I'd picture frame it but it depends on the size of the room, don't it? As stated above, lay out the cherry to go over the places of the inlay, then cut the inlay and tongue/groove the ends and install.

PrecisionFloors · 02-19-2009, 02:39 PM

I prefer to snap lines and lay the field first. Then I use my Festool saw and guide rails to get nice smooth, square, and chip- free edges. Depending on the thickness of the material and the substrate I will then route a groove around all sides, make some tongues on the table saw real quick, and install the border.

Floordude · 02-19-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platinum8

Hey fellas,

I am about to start a hardwood floor job and they want to do maple floors with a cherry inlay. I am using prefinished floors, 3 1/4" wide boards. I wanted some of your opinions. Should I picture frame around the room with the maple or should I just run it in one direction even on the short ends? I think I want to picture frame it and if so how many times should I go around before the inlay? I was thinking about 3 wraps.

Also how do you guys start? Do you start with outer picture frame or should i start in the middle with all the boards running in one direction and screw some strappin to floor where my inlay is going?

Thanks in advance!!

All options you should get discussed and documented which pick, how far and where, then signed off on, before you take it upon yourself to chose these specifics of the job.

firemike · 02-19-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

all options you should get discussed and documented which pick, how far and where, then signed off on, before you take it upon yourself to chose these specifics of the job.

bingo!

Platinum8 · 02-19-2009, 09:07 PM

should i miter the corners of my feature strip and the 3 or so rows that picture frame it or should I but them? Or is that all just personal pref?

thanks

jcalvin · 02-19-2009, 10:06 PM

i done a herringbone border using 5 boards white oak then 3 boards walnut and turned the white oak inside that traditionally in my personal home. it was the first piece of hardwood i had ever put down before in my life. i had always hired it done but didn't want to pay it when the money came out of my own pocket. it was absolutely beautiful. the way the wood came together with the different grains and colors, i loved it. the only advice i can give on the installation is to take it one board at a time and make darn sure you stay straight. it is VERY tedious, time consuming, and trying. take your time it is well worth it. as far as pricing a job like this, hourly only! make sure the ho knows there is no way of pricing something like this unless you only do floors like this everyday.

s. donato · 02-20-2009, 08:47 AM

i would not miter the corners. utilize the T&Gs as much as possible. like jcalvin said just alternate sides of the the picture frame. they will weave together nicely and it will be a strong finish unlike miters.

the big 12 inch · 02-20-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platinum8

should i miter the corners of my feature strip and the 3 or so rows that picture frame it or should I but them? Or is that all just personal pref?

thanks

Only pu**sys log cabin their corners!!!

PrecisionFloors · 02-20-2009, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s. donato

i would not miter the corners. utilize the T&Gs as much as possible. like jcalvin said just alternate sides of the the picture frame. they will weave together nicely and it will be a strong finish unlike miters.

Um..I can still have a tongue & groove with a miter....that's what a router is for