I am installing a hardwood floor around a curved staircase. Any ideas on how to create a curved template?

Answer 1

This Q has been asked before, and no offense at all, Yahoo does have the search feature for similar Q's and A's.

Certainly there is more than one option.

In the individual planks you might try a heavy paper, shape it to the curve, creasing it with a finger nail and tracing that onto each board. You might find a flexible; rubber coated tool, specific for this kind of effort. I use one often,,, OR you might get the tool that looks like a CURRY COMB; used for molding angles, etc.; and press the teeth to comform to the shape.

Without knowing if there is any molding at the base, you probably should remove it first,,,or consider adding some after the fact, in case there is a fractional OOOPS.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

A curved staircase is the same as an arc, or archway laid flat. An arc implies a portion of a circle.

If you were to take a strip of cardboard, for example, and nail one end only. Then the other end would feely rotate in the full circle shape all the way around.
You could use this same idea and the only thing you'll need to adjust is for your size.
If you take your measurements from any part of the Circle-To-Center(of the circle) you will have the correct size all the way around the circle. Now just measure how long your arc is, and draw out the arc for the length you require.

I'd use cardboard to get my arc, this can easily be transferred, for one thing. Secondly, I can just pop a hole in the end "Not Nailed Down" and insert a pencil to make a line as I rotate the free end - Hence, draw my circle / arc.

Answer 3

How old is the building your living in. That could give you a clue if they are hardwood. If the building is 50 years old or more then it's a good chance that they are hardwood. You can buy hardwood flooring cleaner at Home Depot. Check out the seams where the flooring butts together. If you are able to visibly see and or slide something very thin into the seam like a razor blade then it's hardwood if not then it's most likely laminate.

Answer 4

Lay a piece of stiff cardboard or hardboard up against the staircase. Take a compass like kids use in school to draw circles, open the compass up and trace the arc by holding the metal point against the staircase and the pencil on the cardboard.

Answer 5

This may sound strange, but engineers use clay or even kids play-doh, when making structures, it will harden, the thinner you use the quicker it will harden. Very easy to clean, I'm sure there is a complicated formula for it, but if you want to get the job done, and not spend all day wondering if your formula is correct, try it, the radius is all you need.