How to Cut Wood Flooring to Put in End Tracks

End tracks may be necessary for installing transition pieces for sections of wood flooring, or for installing sliding or french doors in a doorway. You may also need to create end tracks to install a structural component such as a half-wall. Creating an end track involves cutting out a section of the existing wood flooring to accommodate wood or metal pieces that will sit directly on the subfloor, particularly when the wood flooring is glued to the subfloor.

Measuring tape
Pencil
Metal straightedge
Pry bar
Router
Spline slot cutter

Instructions

- 1
  Determine where you will position your end track. Measure the width and length of the end track with a measuring tape and transfer the measurements to the flooring with a pencil. Draw an outline of the end track on the surface of the floor using a metal straightedge as a guide.
- 2
  Remove a section of base molding with a pry bar to expose the edge of the wood flooring. Measure the height of the wood flooring with a measuring tape to determine the depth of the cut. Replace the base molding.
- 3
  Fit a router with a spline slot cutter, which contains three carbide blades for cutting wide grooves in wood. Set the router depth to the height of the wood flooring.
- 4
  Place the router at one edge of the end track. Turn on the router and follow along the outline of the end track to cut the track into the wood flooring. If necessary, continue passing the router along the interior of the track area until it is the correct size.

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