Fitting Wooden Floors Around Corners

No matter what type of wood flooring you’re planning to install, fitting that wood flooring around corners is likely to pose you a challenge.  If you’ve selected solid wood or engineered wood flooring and are planning a DIY wood flooring installation, you’re likely to be able (with a bit of skill of course) to rattle through the main part of the room reasonably quickly.  Like any DIY job however, the impact of the end result depends to a large extent on the finishing touches.

Fitting wooden floors both solid wood and engineered wood around corners,  calls for some planning, patience and skill.  In new houses, it is likely that corners, in most cases, will be neat, 90-degree affairs, but in old houses, or renovation projects, the corners are likely to be less uniform.

One thing that is important to establish is that the guidelines for inside corners and outside corners are unlikely to be the same.  It’s also essential to ascertain if the wood is going to run alongside the corner or if it’s going to go around it.  What’s more, with not all corners a exact 90-degrees, it’s of paramount importance that you take care when planning how you will fit your wooden floor around a corner.

So, once you’ve established whether you’re dealing with an inside or an outside corner, whether the wood should run along or around the corner and the angle of the corner, you should be in a good position to plan your attack.

If you’re taking your flooring through a passage way and looking to butt two sections of wood flooring together, you’re going to need to make two 90 degree cuts to envelop the corner and allow the planks to run in the same direction in each room.  On the other hand, if you are seeking to create a visual effect, you may decide to mitre the wood and butt it around the corner at 45 degree angles.

When it comes to dealing with any odd shaped angles, it’s a good idea to make a paper template of the corner you’re cutting.  A paper template will allow you to mark the exact shape on the plank and cut your wood with confidence.   A top tip when making your paper template is to tape the paper to your original floor so it doesn’t slip while you are making your markings.  Once you are confident that you have marked your corner accurately, remove the paper; make your cuts and double check that it’s a neat fit around your corner.  Working this way will help make fitting wooden floors around corners a much simpler task.

FAQ

Q1: What challenges does fitting wood flooring around corners pose?

Answer: Fitting wood flooring around corners can pose challenges due to the need for careful planning, patience, and skill. Especially in old houses or renovation projects, the corners may not be uniformly 90-degrees, which can make the fitting process more complex.

Q2: How does fitting wood flooring differ for inside and outside corners?

Answer: The guidelines for fitting wood flooring around inside corners and outside corners are unlikely to be the same. Additionally, it’s important to establish if the wood is going to run alongside the corner or if it’s going to go around it.

Q3: How should I prepare before fitting wooden floor around a corner?

Answer: First, establish whether you’re dealing with an inside or an outside corner, and whether the wood should run along or around the corner. It’s also crucial to ascertain the angle of the corner. This preparation should put you in a good position to plan your approach.

Q4: How can I fit wooden floor in a passage way through a corner?

Answer: If you’re taking your flooring through a passage way and looking to butt two sections of wood flooring together, you’ll need to make two 90-degree cuts to envelop the corner and allow the planks to run in the same direction in each room.

Q5: How can I deal with odd shaped angles when fitting wooden floor around a corner?

Answer: To deal with any odd-shaped angles, it’s a good idea to make a paper template of the corner you’re cutting. Tape the paper to your original floor so it doesn’t slip while you’re making your markings. Once you’re confident that you have marked your corner accurately, remove the paper, make your cuts, and double-check that it’s a neat fit around your corner.

Jonathan Sapir

Jonathan Sapir has over 17 years in the flooring industry. As an authority on flooring, he infuses his extensive knowledge and passion for quality products into every article. Jonathan's expertise helps readers make informed decisions for elegant and durable flooring solutions.