DIY Inlaid Wood Floor Borders

Place the desired wood inlay on a sheet of plywood. Tape the ends of the inlay to the plywood so it stays in place while you trace around it using a pencil. Remove the tape and inlay and cut along the outline on the plywood with a jigsaw. This cut outline serves as the template for the inlay. Alternatively, skip this step if your pre-finished inlay includes a template in the kit.

Spread the inlay template on the hardwood floor, in the desired location where you want to install the border. Hammer a finish nail into each corner of the template to secure it to the section of the hardwood floor directly below. The section of the floor these nails penetrate will be removed to make way for the inlaid border.

Form a shallow, 3/16-inch cut through the hardwood floor along the template using a router and 1/2-inch carbide bit. Continue to form a shallow cut on the floor around the inlay template. Guide the router along the outline with each pass, until it cuts through the wood floor and reaches the subfloor.

Pry the cut section of the flooring out of the pocket with a pry bar. Work carefully so you do not damage or chip the surrounding wood.

Clean the dirt and cutting debris from the exposed section of the hardwood floor using a shop vacuum. Dry fit the inlay border over the exposed subfloor to ensure the accuracy of the cuts. Smooth out irregularities on the surrounding flooring surface with the router, if required.

Apply an even layer of wood adhesive over the exposed subfloor. Center and lower the decorative inlay border over the glued section. Place heavy books on the inlay to apply pressure and help the adhesive bond.

Wipe away any adhesive that seeps out through the edges of the inlay with a damp cloth. Allow the adhesive to dry for the time specified on the label’s directions before removing the books.