I need to remove a strip of hardwood flooring from a prefinnished hardwood floor. Have been told to remove strip using router or skillsaw by cutting a couple of slots in the piece of wood and then removing remaining wood with a chisel. Any advice on this appreciated . What about the flooring staples?
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If you can find (borrow), or buy, a Fein multi tool, that would be the ticket. If your careful you can use a plate joiner. I usually make 2 taper cuts down the middle of the board with a circular saw set at 20 or 30 deg. and pull the wedge out. The rest is hand tool work.
At NWFA's annual convention this year a contest was held on floor board repair....with hand tools only.....the winner made a very nice repair in under 3 mins.
Ditch
This job is easier than one might think.
First, make sure your skillsaw has a a blade with carbon tips. Most blades are now anyway. The carbon will cut thru any staples or nails. Be sure to set your blade depth to the thickness of the flooring only. Run two cuts the length of the piece to be removed. The two cut should be in the middle and at least 1/2" apart. Careful not to damage or cut into the adjoining pieces. Pull or gently pry out the center piece between the two cuts. If you can't get the piece out do a diagonal plunge cut thru the center strip left and pull out the pieces. Now you are left with the tongue and groove edges. Gently pry the remaining pieces away from the rest of the flooring, making sure to clear the tongue and groove before prying them out.
To install the new piece cut out the bottom flange of the groove side. Cut the tongue and groove of the ends as well. Tuck the tongue in first and tap the piece into place use a block of pine and a rubber mallet as to not damage the finish. You can glue it in place or face nail on the groove side.