Lesson from TheCabinetmaker

[lilrichard2]

I'm wrapping up the remodel of an upstairs bathroom where I've installed new vinyl flooring. I found this flooring at a closeout and had only the required snap-together pieces to complete the job, so I was acutly aware of the need to be especially careful. Though I measured three times - carefully - I still cut too deeply into the floor area of the tile.

Here's one side at the doorway:





I had some idea on a possible means of disguising this mistake and mentioned it to Charles, TheCabinetmaker. I'm fortunate to have him as a friend and we talk frequently about various interest items in woodworking. Charles is a gifted woodworker and is active in several groups, both here in central Ohio and nationally.

Charles has a philosophy about mistakes in woodworking - if you make a mistake, find a way for the corrective action to appear as a design element!

Well, I trimmed of the bottom of the door facing so that 1/4" thick material would slide under it, selected a nice piece of maple to fit outside-to-outside of the door facing, and be wide enough to function as a threshold and also cover the miscuts in the tile - never liked that aluminum trim - and finish the maple to closely match the wood floor, which is natural beech. Two coats of amber shellac - diluted 50%, and three coats of wipe-on poly - and it fitted in there like a glove - Mama is as happy as a pig in slop!








Thanks Charles,

r2

[MikeBob]

As a tile installer and many bathrooms. I would say that looks great!!! A tile to wood but joint, other then some grout looks unfinshed.
Plus it you cant get a perfect match, dont even try, as you did, a design thing.
Thats how I would have handled it.

[Phil Thien]

Lemonade all the way. Very nice job.

[mr_skittle]

Looks great. Better than if "properly done". Here's a trick I picked up somewhere along the way. Lay some loose flooring right next to the door frame. Then you use a small flush cut saw to trim off the bottom of the door frame. Then the flooring just slides right underneath without having to trim the flooring at all.

[David G]

Nice save!  Thanks for the post.

[tomsteve]

excellent way to cover it!

"Charles has a philosophy about mistakes in woodworking - if you make a mistake, find a way for the corrective action to appear as a design element!"

i read an interview with sam maloof quite a few years ago. i don't think ive read anyone have a negative comment on his craftsmanship.
anyways, the interviewer asked sam if he ever made any mistakes as his work is so beautiful.
his reply:" every single piece ive made i have made a mistake on- some big and some small. craftsmanship comes in by taking that mistake and incorporating it into the piece so it looks like it was meant to be."

[Halfathumb]

Great job. The mark of a true craftsman.

[toolmiser]

I had a Woodworking Teacher in college who always used to say "wood is forgiving".

[TomFromStLouis]

Ain't many things a pretty piece 'o wood can't fix.