Always at your service Eugene Klotz and
Joel Marcus, Inlay Product World
I. FITTING OF IN-LAID DECORATIVE BORDERS
A. New installation
- Outline with pencil or chalk line parameters of border intended for installation on the sub floor, measuring away from the walls the distance, which includes:
- - expansion space
- - width of in-laid border (a)
- - any feature strips used on either side of in-laid border (b)
- - any number of planks that creates frame around in-laid border (c)
This combination is called "border system" (drawing # 1).
#1
* To avoid extra waste factor Renaissance Floor In-Lays manufactures hand cut in-laid borders in short prelaminated sections. Feature strips and plank flooring are not provided.
- Install the field first. For parquet patterns apply floor adhesive only to the pre-marked parameter line and rough trim the excess of wood min. 20 mm ( ¾ ") pass the line with jig saw prior to gluing down (drawing #2).
#2
Installing of plank flooring field should start from the parameter line progressing towards the center of room away from the walls in parallel lay (drawing #3).
Ends of plank field should pass random the parameter line for further trimming (drawing #4).
#4
- Pre-sand roughly flat even the edge area of installed field and retrace the border system parameter line with sharp pencil creating the trimming line. Nail down straight edge as a guide to trim the field with skill saw using fine cut saw blade. Drop the saw blade down adjusting skill saw’s base to match thickness of flooring and trim the field: around for parquet and ends only for plank (drawing # 5 & #6).
- Install the feature strip (b). For plank floor field router out a groove where ends of planks were trimmed with skill saw by using router with spline cutter (drawing #7).
#7
Apply some wood glue into the groove and fasten the feature strip (b) around entire parameter of field (drawing #8).
For parquet floor field cut off the feature strips tongue on a table saw first then apply wood glue on the edge of trimmed parquet and fasten the feature strip (b) with pin gun (drawing #9)
NOTE! Routering a groove to edge of parquet may prove unsafe!
- Install the borders.
The most focal area of a well-designed decorative inlaid border is its returning corner therefore most of our borders maintain fully designed L-shaped corners to avoid using corner blocks. Mark exact center in distances between the corners, apply floor adhesive and install all 4 in-laid corners. Working from the corners toward the center of each distance, apply adhesive under each new section being installed with an exception of 2 last sections, which will meet together in the center. Those pieces should be dry fit by making straight joint cut at the center point (drawing # 10 & # 11).
#10
#11
After completion of making all four center line joints place decorative center piece (d) on the top centered, draw pencil line and remove dry fit sections. Make fine cut following marked pencil line with jig saw and glue down both sections and decorative center piece (d) in all four centers. Fasten around second line of feature strip (b) and install frame planks(c) to complete installation. Installing in-laid border with feature strips in 450 cm. (15 feet) x 520 cm. (17 feet) average room size requires approximately 8 to 10 hrs. of extra work, as oppose to installing hardwood floor without it.
B. Retrofitting border into existing flooring.
Obviously the field is already there, so the only decision needed to be made is weather in-laid border should be surrounded by frame planks(c) or not. If so the field then has to be trimmed with skill saw and entire operation of installing borders with frame should follow the same instructions recommended for new installation. After making the trim cut, all remaining floor from the line to the walls has to be removed. If the frame planks(c) however are not desired, trimming should consist of two exact cuts creating channel to accept in-laid border (a) and two feature strips(c) on each side (drawing #12& #13).
Installer may choose to make a groove routering with spline cutter and install the feature strip (b) using its tongue or remove it on a table saw and fasten the feature strip with a pin gun. Use wood glue in either choice. Retrofitting in-laid borders with feature strips into existing floor in average size room requires approximately 6 to 8 hrs. of work.
Outside corners and 45 degrees angle returns.
Just like with decorative center pieces (d) most of our borders have angle return inserts (i) for outside corners and 45 degrees returns designed individually for each pattern. To mount them, an installer should take the same approach as recommended with installation of decorative center piece (d). Two sections of border which will meet in the angle, should be dry fit (no adhesive). Make a miter cut in the "common" angle (for 45 degrees return miter cut should be set for 22 ½ degrees), lay both pieces loose, then put angle return insert (i) in the center of miter joint, draw fine pencil line around it, remove both loose pieces of border and make a fitting cut with fine blade jig saw (drawing #14 & #15).
NOTE! To create eye-pleasing effect, attention should be focused on achieving symmetry of the border’s pattern in relation to positioning of angle return (i).
In a room with standard 4 wall corners and a fireplace where desired border has to wrap around it, in order to avoid switching directions of border sections ("lefts" to "rights") more then necessary and using more then 4 decorative center pieces (d) we recommend addressing all 4 fireplace corners with angle return inserts (i) (drawing # 15).
12. FITTING CIRCULAR, OVAL AND ODD SHAPED MEDALLIONS AND PANELS.
A. Applying manufacturer’s template method.
Using a standard plunge router and flush cutter with bearing guide which copies desired shape from a template results in quickand perfect fit.
Draw two intersecting symmetry lines centered in room area where Medallion will be mounted. Place the product down aligning with symmetry lines and trace its shape on the subfloor with a pencil (drawing # 16). Install flooring ( plank or parquet) 3 to 12 mm ( '/8" to ½" ) pass the critical pencil line roughly trimming the excess wood-no need to spend extra time fine fitting - and leave a hole for Medallion proceeding further with installation of floor.
NOTE! Secure the wood under by applying glue onto the subfloor outside the pencil line for safe routering and solid installation (drawing # 17).
- Pre sand roughly the edge areas, retrace intersecting symmetry lines and place Medallion back on its location. Draw pencil line around it again and fasten provided template to the floor.
NOTE! Smaller size panels have full routering template, larger ones consist of two quarter panels (drawing # 18).
Align them tight in opposite corners around Medallion, fasten each one with at least two finish nails or pin gun. Remove the Medallion for routering. After cutting of shape is completed, clean up the wood dust and place the Medallion back prior to removing and switching quarter panels for further routering of remaining half.
NOTE! Wear safety glasses during routering operation !
- Rout a hole. Floors which are approximately 20 mm ( ¾ ") thick should be routered in 3 passes about 7 mm ( ¼ ") deep each. Drop the flush cutter down appropriately making sure that the bearing guide rides comfortably against the templates edge and make first pass in clockwise direction. Drop the flush cutter down again another 6 to 7 mm ( ¼ ") and cut the second pass. Remove template now and drop the cutter all the way down to reach the subfloor (drawing # 19) making the final cleaning pass as the bearing guide will copy by tracing against shape made already with previous two passes.
# 19
NOTE! Rounded corners of certain shaped panels left after routering should be carefully chiseled to a fine sharp point to reflect exact panel shape.
- Mount Medallion in place. Clean up all wood dust, apply adhesive on the subfloor and wood glue on the edges, drop the product down and put some weights on its face (like cement bags) to press firmly and allow adhesive to dry.
B. Cutting circle for round Medallions.
Mount a router on specialty extension arm (often offered as an accessory) or build an extension arm yourself out of 12 mm ( ½ ") thick Baltic birch plywood. Use any standard straight cutter bit (no bearing guide necessary) and measuring radius from the outside edge of cutter’s blade nail extension arm in exact center (drawing #20).
Cutter should be flat level with the surface of floor. Mark all three passes on router’s depth scale. Start up the router first, and then drop the cutter down plunging it into wood for first 6-7 mm ( ¼ ") deep pass. Pull the router in clockwise direction slowly to complete all three passes until you reach the subfloor.
Installing new floor with intention to leave a hole for medallion, routering process and installation of feature product adds approximately 1 ½ hr. of work (up to 2 hrs. if two quarter panel templates are needed)
NOTE! Routering templates and flush cutter with bearing are available at Renaissance Floor In-Lays upon request.
Retrofiting into existing floors.
All above described steps are needed to fit an in-laid panel into existing floor, however a greater caution has to be exercised during routering process because the presence of undetected nails or staples hidden inside the wood. First routering pass is usually safe unless face nail is spotted on the way. Try to locate such nail and remove it prior to making a pass.
Upon completion of first pass detect all nails with small magnetic stud finder. Remove them or sink them below the level of next pass.
NOTE! Contact of speed-rotating cutter with unremoved nail will chip the blade and may cause injury!
D. Installing in-lays with pre-finished flooring
- Provide us with exact thickness of prefinished floor intended to be used, so we can match our product. All our in-lays are coated with protective sealer only, usually intended for sanding with a floor after installation. In case of mounting it into prefinish flooring we recommend the following:
- After routering a clean fit hole, break the edge of both: the hole and the Medallion with 150 grit sandpaper creating microbevel around the parameter prior to installing. Mount Medallion as instructed above, mask off with tape the beveled edge and apply few coats of floor finish that best matches sheen which factory applied on pre-finished floor.
NOTE! Unfortunately our borders, sold in short sections often fit in bias-curve joints have to be sanded along with surrounding floor.
E. Scribing method- for new installation only.
Start with drawing two intersecting symmetry lines, locate the Panel in place, and draw its shape on the subfloor. Remove it then and mount two temporary flooring pieces as shown on (drawing # 21). Place the panel on top of them aligning with drawn shape line and drive two finish nails to secure it with temporary under pieces.
Proceed with floor installation, but do not fasten any plank that slipped under the panel. Trace with a sharp pencil the line reflecting panel’s shape, pull it out and make a fitting cut with jig saw using a fine wood cutting blade.
Fasten the cut plank in place applying some adhesive under it, and proceed to the next one until all of them are scribed and fitted around the parameter of entire Panel. Remove the Panel and temporary pieces, apply adhesive and drop it in place. This method is more time consuming and will require approximately 3 to 4 hrs. to complete.
NOTE! Renaissance Floor In-Lays uses one sided lamination pressing all 6.5mm (1/4") in-lay work down on plywood backing. Some larger size panels may warp slightly therefore prior to installing we recommend that such panel should be notched on its backing plywood with skill saw making relief cuts to ease the tension. (Drawing #22).
F. Finishing tips.
Decorative in-lays are composed of various species of wood with deferent densities in each of them. Using rotary sanders (edger, trio or hard plate mounted on standard buffer) in all grits of sand paper during sanding process helps achieving flat surface. To avoid "bleeding" make sure all dust particles are removed with tack cloth prior to application of sealer. Lightly applied mist of a floor spray-can finish over in-lays first will certainly protect from any possible "bleeding".
INLAY PRODUCT WORLD
4Toft Woods Way Media, PA 19063
Ph. 610.566.8660, Fax 610.566.3906
info@inlays.com
www.inlays.com
