How to Cut Floor Jams for Hardwood Floors

Installing hardwood flooring planks is a job many home owners perform themselves. With the invention of tongue and groove hardwood, many planks simply snap together over the subfloor. However, many installers over-complicate the installation in door openings. While inexperienced installers attempt to cut the floor boards around the door jambs, the proper method is to cut the door jambs instead. This allows you to slide the hardwood planks under the jamb, thus requiring only straight cuts for the floor material.

Hardwood floor scrap
Underlayment (optional)
Pull saw
Chisel
Hammer

Instructions

- 1
  Look for a piece of scrap hardwood flooring to use as a guide as you cut the jambs. Don't use a piece that you want to install, since the cutting process may scratch or crack it.
- 2
  Lay the piece of hardwood floor on top of whatever type of underlayment you are using. If you are not installing anything under the hardwood floor, then simply use the wood piece.
- 3
  Lay the piece of wood on the floor directly next to the left side of the door jamb. Grasp the handle of a pull saw and lay it flat on top of the board with the teeth facing the jamb. Position the area of the blade closest to your wrist at the outer corner of the jamb.
- 4
  Pull the saw back toward you as far as possible to score the wood. Remove the saw and place it back in the original position. Pull the saw back again to score the line a little deeper.
- 5
  Continue this process until the groove is deep enough that you can push the saw forward and back easily. Then continue cutting until you reach approximately 1/2 inch deep.
- 6
  Remove the saw and place the tip of a chisel into the cut line. Angle the chisel blade down at an angel and tap it with a hammer to break out the small block of wood from the jambs.
- 7
  Slide the section of hardwood, and underlayment if applicable, under the jamb to ensure it fits.
- 8
  Repeat the process on the other side of the doorway.

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