Aptitude

I am getting ready to begin a hardwood install and my client wants a inlayed border of a differant species of wood. The border consists of just one 3'' piece, one foot in from the walls around the perimeter of the room. I was wondering what the best way to go about installing the border would be. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Floorwizard

what is the materials exactly?

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dsnAK

It is really easy. I'll use the following words in the description - field (area inside border), border, and outside (area on the perimeter of the floor - outside the border)

I measure up and install the field first. I measure to have a full board as the starter and as the finisher along both lenghtwise runs of the edge of the border. Chalk all of your lines to the walls so you can find them later. I run the ends over the lines and cut after the feild is installed... See picture.

THen run a slot cutter on all sides that need a the groove - glue in a spline and run your border - use a biscut in the corners to keep the border from spreading. Install your border and then run the outside of the floor - I prefer to do these corners in a herring bone pattern for 90 degree corners and miters fir off 90 corners.

The photos are of a prefinished border and I did not particularily like it; but the clients loved it. I think borders are best in a site finished floor.

I have heard of people running the border first and it does not make any sense to me; but might to you - seems like a lot of extra work and precise cutting instead of careful measurements and using a calculator to plan your layout.

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Aptitude

Thank you for your help the picture was a big help. How much do slot cutters run?

dsnAK

$30-40 - be very careful and do not rush it - you are removing alot of wood when you are routing.

THis is what happens when you do not pay attention..

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Teetorbilt

Best is not to try to take it all in one pass. A couple of shallow passes will eliminate blowouts.

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Mike Costello

That has to be the best description of how to do something I have ever read in here. And pictures too!!!! AWSOME!

dsnAK

Thanks - I am surprised no one asked how the flooring was being laid. That job was a glue down over concrete of 5/8" bamboo. The concrete was right on the cusp of emitting too much moisture so I used Bostick's MVP. Worked like a charm and is still in great shape I am told.