How to Install Wood Flooring Around Bullnose Walls

Set the board to be cut as close to its eventual location as possible. Its long edges must be parallel to the already-installed boards, and its short leading edge must be butted up against the board that it will follow. Measure with a tape measure, then mark the line to be cut so it will fit between the already-installed board and the straight wall line approaching the bullnose corner.

Align a right-angled set square into the recess so it protrudes out over the board to be cut. Mark across the board along the outside edge of the set square. This will give you two lines on the board to be cut; these lines define the shape you sawed out if the corner was square, not bullnosed.

Draw an internal right-angle on cardboard, then sketch in a shape as close to the shape of the bullnose as possible. Use scissors to cut this template shape out, and press the template against the bullnosed corner. Make as many templates as necessary to get an exact fit.

Transfer the shape of the template to the board to be cut when the template is a perfect fit around the bullnose. Align the two straight edges of the template with the two lines already marked on the board and trace around the curve with a marker or pencil.

Use a jigsaw to cut the bullnose shape. Cut the longer rips of whatever recess is bracketed by the bullnose corner with a regular circular saw. Stay back between 5/16ths and three eighths of an inch from contact with the wall. This is a general rule for all hardwood flooring to allow for expansion under changing conditions.