Hardwood Flooring Medallion and Inlay Installation

• Router
• Routing bit (supplied)
• Template (supplied for oval and odd shaped medallions)
• A pencil, ruler
• Flooring adhesive and spreader (can be purchased from Czar Floors).
• Dry Vac

Estimated work time:
1 hour

Prerequirements:

Please read all the General requirements for wood floor parquet installation first. Make sure that all the conditions for environment, subfloor and materials are met before attempting to install the medallion.

Note: Prior to installation, keep the medallion in the climate controlled environment, flat, in horizontal position to avoid possible warping. Acclimate the medallion for at least 24 hr. in the room where it will be installed. Keep the medallion in the original plastic wrap prior to installation.

Humidity and Winter season warning: Please keep the humidity level in the house within acceptable range of 40 to 60%. Dry in-house air is typical for a cold season. This is the primary cause for wood warping, gaps and cracking in the inlays and is not covered by warranty. Use either HVAC build-in or portable humidifier to maintain the environment. Inlay are more sensitive to the moisture fluctuations than regular plank hardwood floors due to the combination of different wood species with different hygroscopic properties. Simple electronic Hygrometer can be purchased from Radio Shack for approximately $20 to monitor the environment.

General information

Wood floor medallions are installed by cutting the floor to the required shape and size, down to the subfloor. The medallion is glued-down into the opening. The floor can be new or existing, prefinished or unfinished.

Round medallions typically installed using jig method or template where supplied.

Rectangular medallions and the medallions with the straight lines are installed using guide cutting method. With the square medallions, some installers prefer to glue the medallion first and then install the flooring around it.

Odd shaped, oval inlays are installed using provided installation templates.

Unfinished floor installation is preferred. The medallion and the floor are sanded and finished together on-site. This process offers a better fit of the inlay and the rest of the floor. Gaps can be patched with the wood patty. Sanding of the entire floor insures that the floor and inlays are at the same height and seamless transition.

Prefinished floor installation requires the medallion to be already finished and to be the same thickness as the rest of the floor. Inlay installation can be done any other time after the floor is installed. However, it is less forgiving for the gaps and scratches during the installation.

Czar Floors Preglued hardwood medallions can be unfinished or prefinished. 3/4" thick medallions are constructed using 5/8" solid wood, glued to the 1/8" hi-quality plywood backer. Other sizes: 5/8", 3/8" and 1/2" thick medallions are solid wood, without backer.

Larger, over 70 in. medallions can be supplied in segments to be assembled on-site.

Choose the location where your medallion will be placed. On the sub floor draw the lines to locate the center of the medallion. Use Jig method to cut a circular hole in the floor or use a template for other shapes. Jig is especially useful in large size medallions installations and prefinished floor installations where attaching a template to the floor may present a chance of damaging the floor finish. For the template method, line up the installation template so the template lines are aligned with the lines that you have drawn on the sub floor. Then trace around the inside of the template so that the shape of the medallion is drawn on the sub floor. Remove the template and set aside. On picture, the parquet tiles are not installed in the area where medallion will be installed. (Blue masking tape is used to hold the parquet tiles from moving during the glue curing period.)

Step #4

Equip your router with the bit and set the depth to route approximate 3/16" of the flooring at a pass. This will prevent overheating and failure of the routing bit. Drop the flush cutter down, making sure that it's bearing rides against the template edge. Route around the inside of the template clockwise until you have routed flush to the sub floor. Remove the router template.

Step #5

Vacuum and clean all the wood dust.

Medallions can be test fit into the hole that you routed and be very close to flush with the rest of the floor*. (You may attach a piece of tape underneath the medallion so it'll be easier to pull it back).

Apply flooring adhesive into the hole that you routed and spread evenly.

Place the medallion in the opening and weight with something that is heavy and distributes the weight evenly. Bags of sand or concrete work well. Let the glue cure for the per the manufacturer's instructions. (At least 24 hours). Wipe excessive glue immediately.

* Note: Larger medallions could warp slightly before installation if they have not been kept in a humidity controlled environment. When the medallion is weighted it should flatten out.

Step #6

If your floor and medallion are pre-finished you are done! If you are installing with an unfinished floor, the medallion can now be sanded and finished with the same method as the rest of your flooring. You should use good quality wood patches to mask all the gaps. There are patches that available in different wood species colors. Some colors can be closely matched by mixing of different patches. Fine wood dust left after floor cutting can be also used to fill the outer edge gap around the medallion. Use of patches is a normal procedure in medallion installation. Care for our product the same as you normally would care for a wood floor.

Cutting a round hole for the medallion using jig method (no template)

Round cut holes can be easily made using router jig method, often sold as accessory.

Jig can be made from the piece of 1/2" x 48" x 8" plywood. Router is installed on one end of the jig using original base screws. Mark a line 2" inch from one end of the plywood. Preferably, using a forester bit if you have one, drill a 1/2" hole for the router bushing on this line in the center of the board width. (Simply use the router's removable baseplate as a template. The center hole need only be big enough for the size bit you use.) Predrill hole on another end with the distance to the outer cutting edge of the bit equal to the required hole radius. Drive a nail or screw through the hole to fix it in the center of the circle in the floor. Verify again to make sure that the size is set correctly. Now you can turn on the router, lower the bit and rotate the jig you made around the pivot, cutting the circle. Cut the circle in several passes of 1/8" to 1/4" deep. For inside cutting, move the router clockwise. Router bit can be any straight cut plunging type, preferably double flute. Rockler Catalog is selling very convenient jig online.

Adhesive For medallions and borders installations, Bostik makes a very convenient glue cartridge 1100 FS. A fast curing, one-part, cartridge/gun applied, moisture cure urethane adhesive that does not contain water or chlorinated solvents, is V.O.C. Compliant and has no ozone depleting chemicals. Read Data Sheet for 1100FS. Typically one cartridge is sufficient for 30" medallion, two cartridges for 40 " and 48" medallions. For larger installations, Bostik Best glue is available in two and five gallon cans. Bostik Best glue is the only adhesive tested and certified by Czar Floors. Use other adhesives at your own risk. Czar Floors does not provide warranty on subfloor separation for other adhesives. Ask about the glue when placing the order or purchase separately on-line. $15 each + $8 S/H anywhere in U.S.

Routing Bit One routing bit is included with every medallion. However it may break during the installation. To avoid delays, you may purchase additional router bits online or add it to your order. The bit is 2 flute, carbide tipped with totally enclosed guides. The top mounted bearing is ideal for template routing. Diameter: 1/2" Cutting length: 1/2" Shank: 1/4" $19.95 each + $8 S/H anywhere in U.S.

General Guidelines, Tips, and Safety:

• Always use your safety glasses, hearing and dust protection.


• Read and understand the instructions for both the machinery and cutters before starting to work.


• Use safety devices such as pushblocks and featherboards where appropriate.


• When using the router, pay particular attention to the condition of the collet. Frequently, bit breakage and poor performance can be directly attributed to a worn or damaged router collet.


• Always inspect a router bit before use. Check for chips in the carbide, frozen bearings, worn shaft, and be sure set screws and nuts are tight in bit assemblies.


• Always change bits or make adjustments with the router unplugged.


• Make sure the bit shaft is set at least 3/4” into the collet, but not bottomed out in the collet. The end of the shank should be about 1/16” up from the bottom of the collet.


• Two light passes cut more smoothly and easily than one heavy pass. Proper bit RPM is important, especially with larger, heavier bits. In general, burning of the wood or excessive vibration can be corrected with a slower rpm and a lighter cutting pass.


• Failure to follow all safety instructions and warnings can result in serious bodily injury.


• In no event shall we be liable for death, injuries to persons or property arising from use of our products.