Replies

1. 
   frenchy | Nov 08, 2007 01:35am | #1

   Lisa

     I could be a smart alek and tell you it's firewood for someone..  I won't because the truthe is more complex than that..

     Some hardwood flooring can be reused, some can't it depends on a lot of factors.

      How badly worn is the floor?  there is a tongue and a grove on each piece of flooring. The thickness left above the tonge and groove determines if it can be reused. less than 3/8ths of an inch and it's pretty well junk.. If you kept the wood in order it was laid you might risk a little less, but you see when it's lad back down they need to sand everything level and if much of the wood has already beeen sanded/worn off you'll get too close to the groove doing the sanding for level that all hardwood floors require.. and it will split out..

     What is the floor anyway?  I mean the market price for Oak flooring starts at 99 cents per sq.ft.  that's brand new flooring.    Even good quality oak can be purchased new  for three or 4 dollars per sq.ft.   Rare woods are worth more but again the market for some woods is extremely cheap, so it really depends..

      When it was pulled up was any damage done?   If so, again you have firewood..

    How much are we speaking about, small sized rooms don't command any real attention because the cost of new full length flooring isn't that high to begin with..

    Should I go on?   or do you have enough information?  You might be able to donate it to some needy handyman but as for getting any real cash for it I doubt it unless you happen upon that once in a while person.

2. 
   alwaysoverbudget | Nov 08, 2007 08:10am | #2

   taking it up without damaging the tounges from  the nails is a pita. i'd just get in there rip it up  and make a big bonfire to roast hot dogs on. larry

   if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?

1. 
   LisaBasis | Nov 08, 2007 04:01pm | #3

   Good to know. Thanks

3. 
   JohnT8 | Nov 08, 2007 07:46pm | #4

   The condition of the wood and type of wood really determine if it is worth salvaging.

   Sorry I don't know any salvage guys in your area, but this reply will bump your thread back up to the top of the list and maybe someone will come along who does have an answer for you.

   Do you have any pictures of the floors?  Someone here might be able to give you an idea of what the floors are.

    

   jt8

   "The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."   --Dave Barry

4. 
   Tim | Dec 18, 2007 07:56pm | #5

   I have removed, de-nailed and reused about a thousand sq. ft. of "standard" 3/4" oak flooring. It is a labor intensive process if standard flooring nails are used. Under the best circumstances, copiuos amounts of kindling will be created. If someone were willing to pay twice as much for reclaimed versus virgin flooring (hardwoods are renewable, BTW), it still wouldn't make money. I ended up giving a lot of removed oak flooring away, because after reusing a lot of it, I had my fill. The nails have to be broken off, not pulled. I was able to easily remove the flooring from the subfloor with the the nails still through the tounges. Some pulled through, but most stayed in the flooring.

   Depending on the age and dryness of the flooring and the integrity of the subfloor, it may simply be impossible to remove much of the flooring in a reusable condition. It would best be done near the end of summer when the woods in the space hold the most moisture. The subflooring will hold the nails less ferociously and the flooring tounges will be less brittle.

1. 
   wane | Dec 18, 2007 08:12pm | #6

   put the word out in the neighbourhood, there's always someone wishing they could find a match to repair or reno with ..

2. 
   JohnT8 | Dec 18, 2007 08:20pm | #7

   Next time I have the opportunity, I want to try a new method.  On the current project, this Bosch flush cut blade has been a God send.  I can take a stud out of a wall in about 10 seconds.  Just stick the blade in the crack between top plate and stud and ZIP!  It just cuts the nails off flush.  In many cases, I can reuse the stud.  Works the same for taking out a floor joist.  Can cut the joist loose from the bad joist and from the subfloor.

   So I'm wondering if I couldn't do the same for some old T&G flooring.  Get the blade under there and zap the nails off flush. 

   Just gotta make sure you get the SHMF blade, not one of the others that look similar but has a different tooth pattern.  I can't seem to find them hereabout any more.  Everyone has the newer model with a crappy tooth pattern, so I've started getting them on eBay.

    

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   jt8

   "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it." --Upton Sinclair

   Edited 12/18/2007 12:41 pm by JohnT8

5. 
   collarandhames | Dec 29, 2007 06:03am | #8

   I used a right angle grinder to remove several bazillion nails from siding,, was a few hours work for sure,, but got some great lap siding for free!  Going to side my garage with it this spring!  (steel for the roof is under a pile of snow right now!)

   d

    

   Its a horse thing!