How to Replace Hardwood Floorboards

Replace old hardwood floorboards with these simple step-by-step instructions.

More from Help Around the House
Filed under: Hardwood, Flooring, Repair

Water damage can’t be undone, but when it comes to hardwood flooring, you can simply replace the damaged boards. Here’s how to do it:

Materials and Tools:

compound miter saw
pry bar
hammer
nail puller
combination square
grease pencil
circular saw
chisel
power drill
flat-head screwdriver
utility knife
tape measure
nail set
safety glasses
#4 and #6 nails
tar paper
hardwood-floor replacement pieces

Steps:

1. Pry off the baseboard to expose the damaged area.

2. Wearing safety goggles, use the nail puller to remove the nails that are holding in the damaged floorboards. Tap down until the tip of the puller is just under the head of the nail, and then pull the nail out.

3. Use the pry bar to break the seal and pull up the damaged boards.

4. If dealing with tongue-in-groove flooring, decide how much wood needs to be removed, and use the combination square and grease pencil to mark where to make cuts in the floor.

5. Set the circular saw so that it makes cuts just deep enough to go through flooring. Start cutting boards by making a plunge cut, and then pull the blade guard back, keeping fingers well away from blade, and place the foot of the saw against the work area.

6. Start the saw and ease into the floor. Make as many cuts as necessary to get the boards out, and then pry them up.

7. Line the exposed area with tar paper, and cut to fit with a utility knife.

8. Measure the length of each replacement board needed and cut with the compound miter saw.

9. You’ll probably need to cut off the lower lip on the grooved side of some of the floorboards to work them into place. Just mark the lip on the underside of the board and pop it off with a wood chisel and hammer.

10. Slide a replacement board into place, drill two pilot holes into the ends and secure it with #4 nails.