Expected Problems to Face When Removing Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring is a beautiful addition to any home; however, sometimes it may become necessary to remove it for various reasons. Perhaps carpet is more up your alley, or bamboo flooring because of the durability. Whatever the reason may be, removing hardwood flooring can be easy if done correctly. However, it should be noted even with the best of intentions, unexpected problems may arise. Making sure to take time to do the job correctly is the key!
One step in removing hardwood flooring is to determine if it is old growth wood or not. Old growth wood is typically, Douglas Fir, Oak and Maple. These types of wood have a higher density and fewer defects than new wood that you will find today. Often the old growth wood comes in lengths of 12 ft. or more, which you won’t find at a local Lowe’s or Home Depot. When choosing to remove old growth wood, make sure you are 100% sure that is what you want to! This type of flooring is coveted by house hunters and enthusiasts alike.
The first step in hardwood floor removal, is of course to pry up the flooring. A good idea is to pry up the first few boards to give yourself room to work. Be sure to be patient and give yourself adequate time to work on this project. One popular method of doing this is to use a circular saw. This tool can make a plunge cut along the length of the board and the result will be a board that is relatively easy to pry out. Having good tools for this project is key to not having a nightmare later.
The next step is a relatively simple one, and it is the act of prying up the boards in a neat and orderly fashion. While using a pry bar, you want to gently lift the boards up and out in the direction of the nail. This is in order to avoid breaking away from the groove. After that you simply want to work your way down the length of the board with the pry bar, little by little, instead of trying to remove it in one fell swoop.
Finally comes the final step of the process, which is a form of clean up. This is where you simply want to pull any remaining nails from the salvaged wood using large locking pliers. After that has been completed you simply want to make sure you have removed all nail stubs and debris. After some simple steps and a little patience you should be able to put down that new flooring in no time!
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