Working with hardwood is not difficult, but does require some level of comfort with tools. If you feel unsure of yourself or wish to learn how to do the job correctly, we recommend using a licensed professional the first time around.
If you are ready to perform the installation yourself, please read our medallion installation instructions:
Tools needed:
A good grade hardwood adhesive
A plunge router with a .25” collet
Router bit
Nail or stud finder
Strong double-sided tape
Basic carpentry tools
Preparing for installation:
Installation begins with a good subfloor, whether it’s a slab or wood. Medallion must be installed over a sound and level sub floor in compliance with: The National Wood Flooring Association: (800) 422-4556 or contact your local hardwood flooring distributor.
Remove medallion from carton to ensure there is no damage in shipping. Acclimate your medallion to the jobsite (not on concrete) and allow a minimum of 96 hours in a “conditioned” environment before its installation. Your air conditioning/heating system needs to be working on your project site with a temperature and humidity that is acceptable to normal living conditions prior to installation.
Use basic hardwood floor installation guidelines. Check for moisture in the air and on sub floor, to ensure everything is ready. Consult your local hardwood flooring distributor/retailer/contractor for the proper acclimatization levels or requirements for your area.
Installation for new construction:
Set medallion on desired location on top of subfloor. Draw around medallion onto the subfloor. Measure from the wall to medallion for placement. Set aside medallion.
Begin installation of hardwood flooring. When you reach the drawn medallion outline, overlap it by an inch or two. Be sure to use adhesive at the ends of hardwood flooring, up to the drawn medallion outline. Do not put any nails/staples or adhesive inside the drawn medallion outline; nails/staples and adhesive must stay on the outside.
Lay the template onto hardwood flooring using a strong double-sided tape, so that the hole in the jig is directly above the drawn medallion outline. Use your measurements from Step 1 to guide you.
Begin routing out the hardwood flooring that overlaps the drawn medallion shape. Use the template hole as a guide for router. The bearing on the router bit should ride on the inside edge of the template hole for the first cut. Make several shallow passes with the router, going a little deeper each time. Remove the template after a hole is cut to appropriate depth. If necessary, use a sharp chisel to clean out points.
Try to fit the medallion into the hole (if routing precisely, make sure to attach thin straps to several edges of the medallion in order to be able to lift it back out again, otherwise it will be difficult to remove without damaging the floor). The medallion should be flush and level with the surrounding hardwood flooring. Remove the medallion from hole.
Trowel a urethane flooring adhesive (like Bostik Best) to the subfloor inside the routed hole.
Place medallion onto adhesive and press into place. Secure medallion to the subfloor by putting weight on it (make sure that whatever weight is used is carefully placed, spreads itself over the majority of the medallion, and is padded in order to minimize the risk of damaging the medallion). Medallion should be flush and level with the surrounding hardwood flooring. Keep the weight on the medallion until the adhesive is dry (see adhesive instructions for timing).
If you have done the routing job with no errors, you can proceed to the next step, otherwise use a matching wood putty around the edges of the piece and any other areas that may need it. Allow to dry. Sand off excess putty. Finish with rest of floor.
Sand the medallion with the floor up to 120 grit or higher if possible, and use the same procedures as you would on other hardwood floors.
Finish the medallion in the same fashion that you would any hardwood floor. Don’t use any stain to preserve the natural beauty of the species.
Enjoy your medallion for years and maintain as you would any other hardwood floor.
Installation into an existing floor:
Set the medallion on the desired location on top of existing floor. Draw around medallion onto the floor (use a non-permanent, non-damaging means to mark the area). Set aside the medallion.
Begin to check hardwood flooring in medallion drawn area for nails with a stud/nail finder. Mark each and every found nail. Using a hammer and chisel, remove all of them in order to protect your router bit from accidentally clipping a nail and breaking).
Lay the template onto the hardwood flooring using a strong double-sided tape, so that the hole in the jig is directly above the drawn medallion outline. Use your measurements from Step 1 to guide you.
Begin routing out the hardwood flooring that overlaps the drawn medallion shape. Use the template hole as a guide for router. The bearing on the router bit should ride on the inside edge of the template hole for the first cut. Make several shallow passes with the router, going a little deeper each time. Remove the template after a hole is cut to appropriate depth. If necessary, use a sharp chisel to clean out points.
Try to fit the medallion into the hole (if routing precisely, make sure to attach thin straps to several edges of the medallion in order to be able to lift it back out again, otherwise it will be difficult to remove without damaging the floor). The medallion should be flush and level with the surrounding hardwood flooring. Remove the medallion from hole.
Trowel a urethane flooring adhesive (like Bostik Best) to the subfloor inside the routed hole.
Place medallion onto adhesive and press into place. Secure medallion to the subfloor by putting weight on it (make sure that whatever weight is used is carefully placed, spreads itself over the majority of the medallion and is padded in order to minimize the risk of damaging the medallion). Medallion should be flush and level with the surrounding hardwood flooring. Keep the weight on the medallion until the adhesive is dry (see adhesive instructions for timing).
If you have done the routing job with no errors you can proceed to next step , otherwise use a matching wood putty around the edges of the piece and any other areas that may need it. Allow to dry. Sand off excess putty. Finish with rest of floor.
Sand the medallion with the floor up to 120 grit or higher if possible, and use the same procedures as you would on other hardwood floors.
Finish the medallion in the same fashion that you would any hardwood floor. Don't use any stain to preserve the natural beauty of the species.
Enjoy your medallion for years and maintain as you would any other hardwood floor.