NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION TECHNICAL PUBLICATION No. B300 Price: $30 R ORNAMENTAL FLOORS DESIGN & INSTALLATION 2nd Edition © 2011 NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION TECHNICAL PUBLICATION No. B300 ORNAMENTAL FLOORS DESIGN & INSTALLATION INTRODUCTION Care with leather and stone 3 Design considerations Installing brass, copper and aluminum DESIGN AND LAYOUT Installing stone inlays 4 Common guidelines Light SANDING AND FINISHING Selecting materials 21 Have a game plan Parquet patterns Charge appropriately Choosing borders Safety first! Ordering materials Sanding ornamental floors Dry-laying the border Varying grain direction, hardness Measure twice, cut once and density Laying out working lines Sanding metals Perimeter working lines Stone inlays Parallel layout Finishing ornamental floors The trammel point method The 3-4-5 method HAND-SCRAPING AND Using a laser to determine working 24 DISTRESSING lines Hand-scraping and distressing The trammel point method for techniques diagonal layout Diagonal layout PAINTING AND STENCILING Extending working lines to other 26 Preparing the floor rooms Tape method Herringbone layout Self-adhering stencil method INSTALLING ORNAMENTAL Exotic species technique 12 FLOORS Marbling & stone technique Importance of subfloor flatness SPECIALTY INSTALLATIONS Installation methods 29 Bending wood Installing the field Making and using eccentric cams Parquet installation Making and using wedges Herringbone installation Making and using a sliver template Building up the subfloor Installing slivers Installing the border Building stairs Procedure for building stairs INSTALLING INLAYS Enhancing existing floors 16 Manufactured inlays Being creative with factory-finished flooring INSTALLING MIXED MEDIA 18 Installing metal, stone, glass and INDEX, SOURCES AND leather 37 CREDITS, RESOURCES NO GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY The information contained in this publication represents widely accepted industry practices. There are, however, no universally approved methods of troubleshooting wood floors. The National Wood Flooring Association accepts no risk or liability for application of the information contained in this publication. 2 © 2011 NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION TECHNICAL PUBLICATION No. B300 INTRODUCTION HIS PUBLICATION IS INTENDED to provide an overview on Design considerations ornamental floors, and also The key to a successful installation offer basic techniques required is communication between the wood T flooring contractor and the client to to produce such a floor. To take it to the next step, seek out craftsmen who ensure that all the elements of the are skilled at these techniques. The floor design meet the client’s prefer- National Wood Flooring Association ences. When choosing the placement offers training schools, many of which of borders, medallions and other offer instruction in advanced flooring flooring elements, pay attention to installation techniques, led by veteran visual focal points in the room, in- craftsmen. cluding fireplaces, doors and ceiling For more information on dates, designs. Furniture placement may locations and curricula for upcoming also dictate the layout. NWFA schools, or for information on • Prepare a sample to test for com- entering the annual NWFA Wood Floor patibility of the stain and finish with of the Year contest, contact: the wood species and also to obtain the client’s approval of the stain and National Wood Flooring Association finish appearance. 111 Chesterfield Industrial Park Blvd. Chesterfield, MO 63005 • Ensure that materials and job-site (800) 422-4556 (U.S.) conditions are appropriate for instal- (800) 848-8824 (Canada) lation. For guidelines on job-site (636) 519-9663 (local and int’l) conditions, grade levels, subfloors [email protected] and acclimation, refer to the NWFA www.nwfa.org publication Installation Guidelines. © 2011 NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION 3 NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION TECHNICAL PUBLICATION No. B300 DESIGN AND LAYOUT Flooring, NWFA Technical Publication No. A200. To order copies, contact NWFA at the address and phone numbers listed on the back page of this publication.) Selecting materials • Different species of wood have different rates of expansion and contraction. As a rule, the larg- er the piece of wood, especially in width across the grain, the more potential there is for move- ment. Parquet patterns usually run in at least two directions, which greatly lessens move- ment of the floor, since the wood is expanding and contracting in two or more directions. • Different species of wood can vary greatly in hardness and other characteristics, with softer wood showing wear more than harder wood. Different species of wood also respond to sand- ing and finishing differently. Make the client aware—preferably in writing—of the effects of using different species. • When using wood from different mills, be cer- tain that the wood will fit together properly, or be prepared to re-cut grooves and use a slip- tongue or spline. (See Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring, NWFA Technical Publication No. A200.) A SUCCESSFUL FLOORING INSTALLATION starts by consulting with the client to determine the Illustration A: Elements of a Hardwood Floor. optimum placement of the flooring pattern. Corner Apron, Frame, Skirting Feature Strip Common guidelines Corner Border • Adjusting the apron may minimize the need Block to make adjustment cuts on the pattern of Feature Strip the field. If cutting adjustments are necessary in the field, end with equal cuts on four sides if possible. If opposing walls are not parallel, place the field where it allows for half of the Field Material cutting adjustment on each side, so the field is centered. • When calculating the layout, allow for expan- sion space at the room perimeter and at all vertical obstructions. Medallion, Inlay Light V-Block Samples should be observed in the lighting envi- ronment in which they will be installed. Make cli- ents aware that some species change color after prolonged exposure to light. (For more detailed information, see Wood Species Used in Wood 4 © 2011 NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION TECHNICAL PUBLICATION No. B300 Bordeaux Brittany Canterbury Fontainebleu Herringbone Jeffersonian Louvre Marie Antoinette Monticello Rhombs Saxony Standard Pattern Corner Types for Aprons Corner Types for Borders Greek Key border with a corner block Mitered Log Cabin Corner Corner Corner Types with Parallel Apron Greek Key border with a continuous corner Reverse Reverse Mitered Log Cabin Corner Corner Corner Types with Perpendicular Apron Greek Key border with a radius © 2011 NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION 5 NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION TECHNICAL PUBLICATION No. B300 • Borders are typically placed 12 inches or more from the wall. The apron, which is installed between the border and walls, can be used to adjust the dimensions of the pattern to fit the room. Cuts are made along the outer perim- eter, and should be roughly equal on all sides of the room, so the apron is a consistent width. The apron can be laid either parallel or perpen- dicular to the border and can be either lapped or mitered at the corners. • It’s generally best not to border a complex par- quet pattern with a complicated border design. • A border should contrast the field. There are many contrasting wood species from which to choose. • It is common to use the natural colors of species rather than relying on stain, thereby avoiding a dilemma the next time the floor is sanded. • Some species are not compatible with others due to differences in expansion, bleeding of color and grain texture. Manufacturers and distributors can advise on the compatibility of wood species. Parquet patterns Ordering materials Parquet patterns often take their names from • Check actual dimensions of the materials. famous people or places. The Monticello pattern, Stated dimensions may be nominal, rather for example, is based on floors in Thomas Jeffer- than actual. son’s home, and the Jeffersonian is a variation on that pattern. Others, such as Brittany, Bordeaux, • When ordering medallions, borders or feature Canterbury and Marseilles, are named for places strips, verify that the actual thickness of the where they are thought to have originated. There medallion, border or feature strip will match are also geometric patterns like herringbone, the thickness of the flooring. (See “Installing rhombs and standard pattern parquet. Custom Inlays” on page 16.) parquet patterns also can be created, and end- • When estimating stone, consider the thickness grain blocks are becoming popular, as well. of the material. A manufactured pattern may already have the backing necessary to ensure that the stone is flush with the floor surface. When creating a custom pattern, ensure the stone will be flush with the surface. (See “In- stalling Mixed Media” on page 18.) • Most borders come in sections. When ordering, allow a cutting allowance, typically at least one extra section. • Field dimensions should work out so that the outside edges of the field and apron finish with half or whole repetitions of the pattern. Choosing borders • The border’s width should suit the scale of the room. A 12-inch border might not be pro- portionate in a hallway, but it can often be reduced in scale. 6 © 2011 NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION TECHNICAL PUBLICATION No. B300 Laying out working lines Working lines are guidelines drawn or marked with chalk on the