What little tricks do you have? I have been asked that a few times now that my days are spent out and about working with folks.
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What little tricks do you have? I have been asked that a few times now that my days are spent out and about working with folks.
My new task-and one that I enjoy-is to share the training that has blessed my life. I can come to a job site and support our products, but most of all share and exchange real-world job-site stuff. I use the word "stuff" because no classroom can show all the stuff we have to deal with on a job site.
Something that was a big help to me was figuring out a trick for how to get the flooring installed when the walls, trim, door and header all run together.
Look at this photo, the walls run in a hall with double angles and the door header along with the door trim installed:
How do you get the last three boards installed? Fit them under the trim? Well, I call it Bones. I cut to fit the flooring to match the angle, then dry-lay the first and second board. The best way to tell where they will fall in line is to cut two small "bones" that will allow you to pull the boards tight and in place. Go ahead and face-nail and glue the two together so that they will be perfect to the wall, under the trim and tight to the header. Once you get the two installed you can remove the bones and now install the third board, just like a repair. I do not face-nail the third board; I use glue or two-part epoxy so that the third board fits like a glove.
Once it is installed and finished it looks great; the face nail is under the quarter-round and the flooring can move as needed over its life. This simple trick prevents us from having to remove the trim. It butts tight to the header, and the work looks fantastic.
All Things Wood Floor, created by Wood Floor Business magazine, talks to interesting wood flooring pros to share knowledge, stories and tips on everything to do with wood flooring, from installation, sanding and finishing to business management.