Tool for removing wood floors

It's always best to find a dust free option or a strong vacuum if one can be obtained in your area. Once all your flooring is cut into sections, you can tear out the wood using your pry bar and mallet. This is where your knee pads are going to come in very handy. Pro-Tip: Always pry the boards in the same direction they are nailed down to help prevent cracking and splintering. If you have access to an edge of your floor from another room, you can immediately start pulling up your pieces of wood with your pry bar.

If you do not have access to an edge, start in the middle and work your way out. Assuming you cut the boards into small enough pieces, you should be able to pop them right out.

If you need assistance on a stubborn piece, wedge the pry bar under the board and hit with the mallet to create separation. Once the points are between the hardwood and the subfloor, push down on the pry bar, ripping the hardwood up and away.

You might consider renting a roll off dumpster to have in your driveway for easy disposal of your debris to save yourself multiple trips to your local dump or landfill. Wood flooring can usually only be sanded five to six times in its lifetime. From 1, square feet, once its removed and denailed, you have only about square feet left of reusable wood. If some or all of your wood is salvageable, you have a few options for reuse. Keep in mind, glued-down hardwood is seldom recyclable.

With the help of tape, you can clearly define particular boundaries and make cutting and prying more accurate. Additionally, you should clear away as much debris from the work area as possible before beginning to ensure that you have the most available space to work. Remove any laptops, gaming systems, televisions, and other sensitive electrical devices from the room altogether, including the television. Cleaning sawdust from unprotected surfaces is a time-consuming task that will add significantly to the overall duration of your job.

Before you begin, make certain that you are adequately equipped to do the assignment in a safe manner. Put on a pair of tough work gloves to protect your hands while running the circular saw, as well as protective eyewear and a breathing mask to keep sawdust and mold from getting into your lungs.

Due to the presence of loose nails and other exposed edges, you should make it a point to wear closed-toed shoes with thick soles while walking around. Long-sleeved apparel will protect your skin from being exposed to dust and potentially harmful things when working outdoors.

A reciprocating saw may be useful in this situation, depending on the size of the space, but it is not required. It will be necessary to make cuts that are perpendicular to the direction of the wood boards. Make the first cut on the floor where the tape has been placed to indicate the area that will be left. You will not be able to cut through the subfloor as a result of this. Pry the wood planks in the direction in which they are running for the best outcomes.

The chisel can be used to tap beneath the board to make space, then the prybar can be put in position if the screws are stubbornly stuck in place. As you work, keep a few trash bags or containers nearby, and put the wood and other waste into them as you go. This will decrease the likelihood of obtaining splinters or being entangled with an old nail or staple.

You can save time by keeping a small bucket next to you to collect nails and staples as you pull them. If you come across any nails or staples that are simply refusing to come loose, you can use a hammer to pound them flat into the flooring with a hammering motion. For any staples and nails that remain after the removal process, you can use a strong magnet to assist you; otherwise, use your hands or a shop vacuum to remove them.

This will take time, attention, and patience to ensure that the wood remains in good condition throughout the process. When you sacrifice one board, you acquire access to the length of each and every board after that. For the removal of other boards, you may need to lose more than one board in order to gain access. S et the circular saw to the dep t h of the wood and no deeper, so order to avoid damaging your subfloor and cut the wood lengthwise with the saw blade.

In that case, skip to Step 2 and start from there. Gently lift up the board by positioning the prybar beneath the wood at one end of the board. Dig out a central board and work outward in both directions.

Pry up the remaining boards individually. Start at one end of the board and work your way down, keeping the tip of the pry bar positioned directly beneath the nails or staples. Work slowly, doing your best to keep each board intact.

Preserving your flooring is a time consuming process, but the payoff is a fresh supply of useful hardwood. Extract all nails and staples. The best tools for this task are a nail claw or the back of a hammer and a pair of locking pliers. Be patient—it will take a while to remove every last nail and staple. Use a handheld magnet to speed up the collection and disposal of small metal pieces.

Clean and store the salvaged wood. If you wish, you can polish or sand and stain older wood to restore it like-new condition. The longer the pieces are, the more valuable they are. Mitchell Newman Construction Professional. Mitchell Newman. If you're removing regular tongue-and-groove flooring that isn't glued to the floor, the hardest part will be prying the first few boards loose with your crowbar.

Once you do that, you can just use your crowbar to keep pulling up the boards all the way across the floor. If the floor is glued, you can just set your saw up for a cut that's the exact thickness of the board, then pull it up with a crowbar after you cut it. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1.

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Spare yourself the expense and inconvenience of hiring a contractor by removing your hardwood flooring yourself. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Flooring removal projects may take several days.

Invest in an extension cord for your circular saw to ensure that it will span the length of the room. Sand down scratches, gouges and other imperfections on salvageable hardwood, then add a fresh coat of stain and lacquer.

To remove glue-down wood flooring, pry the edges and pull it up. There may be residual glue left on the floor, but it can be removed with a scraper or air chisel. Once you've finished, chances are you'll also be interested in installing new hardwood floors.

Always get rid of wood that shows signs of rot, mildew or damage. Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1. Be on the lookout for nails, staples and sharp wood edges and splinters. These can penetrate shoes and clothing and cause injury. Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0. You Might Also Like How to. How to.

More References 7. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: 5. Updated: March 15, Categories: Wood Flooring.