Step 8: Final fitting

Final fitting
Photo: Kindra Clineff
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With a jigsaw, cut flooring around ducts and outlets. Cover exposed edges with mitered trim pieces, which are supplied by the manufacturer. Fasten trim in place with a brad nailer.

When reaching the wall ending wall, and the stapler can no longer be used, toenail the next-to-last courses with the brad nailer.

Using a table saw, rip the tongue off the last course. Be sure to leave a 1/2-inch expansion space between the final course and wall.

Slip the strips into place and force them tightly against the previous course with a pull bar; facenail them with the brad nailer.

Remove all spacers and install the baseboard. Vacuum the floor, then fill all facenail holes with colored putty.

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    Tools List

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    • straightedge guide
      Straightedge
    • hand saw
      Handsaw
      for trimming door casing
    • pneumatic brad nailer
      Pneumatic brad nailer
      for fastening the first courses of flooring
    • miter saw
      Miter saw
      for cutting flooring strips to length(alternative: backsaw with a miter box
    • jigsaw
      Jigsaw
      for trimming pieaces to fit around vents and other obstacles (alternative: coping saw)
    • pneumatic staple gun
      Pnuematic staple gun
      for securing flooring to subfloor (alternative: hammer stapler)
    • notched trowel
      Notched trowel
      for spreading adhesive for glue-down installations
    • plaster trowel
      Plaster trowel
      for spreading filler to level subfloor
    • combination square
      Combination square
    • utility knife
      Utility knife
    • mallet
      Mallet
    • pull bar
      Pull bar
    • tapping block
      Plastic tapping block
    • hammer
      Hammer
    • tacker hammer
      Hammer tacker
    • 16-foot tape measure
      Tape measure
    • drill
      Drill
    • air compressor
      Air compresor

    Shopping List

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    1. ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORS

    2. MASKING TAPE

    for holding together glued-down boards until the adhesive sets



    3. PATCHING COMPOUND

    used to fill low spots in subfloor



    4. 15-POUND BUILDER'S FELT

    for use as an underlayment



    5. RING-SHANK NAILS OR PHILLIPS-HEAD SCREWS

    for securing subfloor, if necessary