Hardwood surface is widely well-known to every homeowner for its durability, ease of maintenance, and stylish appearance. Above all, this flooring type is reusable, and you can reuse it in home remodeling projects.
Pulling out the hardwood planks is a breeze by cutting them into small pieces. But if you plan to reuse them without damaging them, it will be challenging to pry them up as you need to remove each plank. And this guide on How to Remove Hardwood Flooring for reuse will make the daunting task simple.
Following the step-by-step guide we mentioned below, you can remove the hardwood boards without damaging them. So, stay in tune with us till the end.
Can a hardwood floor be re-used?
Yes, you can surely reuse your hardwood floor, if it is properly removed. The hardwood flooring is boards of lumber and the longevity is excellent. This wood can be easily replaced in any new place in your home or any other location. This will save you lots of money and in this way, you are saving the environment. Just follow the below handy steps to properly remove and reuse your wood floorings.
About 12.2 million tons of wood waste were found in landfills all over the country
Report by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2018
3 Easy Steps To Remove Hardwood Flooring For Reuse
Prying up the hardwood planks with a pry bar is the fastest way to remove the wood floor. Below, we will show you how to use a pry bar and other tools to pull up the hardwood boards without damaging them.
Step 1. Get these tools and safety gears first
Ensure you have the following equipment at your fingertips first.
Tools:
- A Pry Bar that helps you to pry out the hardwood planks
- A hammer to strike on something or the pry bar
- A Nail Claw to remove the staples
- A Curved Vice Grips to pull out both staples and nails
Safety Gears:
- Safety Glasses and Dust Mask for dust
- Gloves with Padded Palm for protection from splinters and stray nails
- Kneepads are essential when removing the hardwood floors They will help you to protect your knees from getting hurt while pulling up the hardwood boards.
- Long Pants are perfect to protect the area below your knee
- Boots
- Tarps
Step 2. Start Prying Up Workflows
Once you have all the tools near your hands, the only step that remains in front of you is to start pulling up hardwood boards using those tools.
First off, insert the pry bar underneath the plank and rock back it to pull up the hardwood board. Repeat this process until you remove all the planks.
It doesn’t take much time to pry up the hardwood boards. The workflow that requires a lot of effort and time is to pull out the nails & staples used to install the hardwood floor.
To remove the staples, use the Nail Claw. Just insert the Nail Claw under the staples and rock back to pop them up.
On the other hand, you need to use the Curved Vice Grips to pry up nails from the hardwood plank.
After removing all the staples & nails, go for the next step.
Step 3. Dispose of the Debris
A pile of debris and dust is now in your working area. What you need to do is- just gather all the messes and dispose of them. A handheld magnet will make the cleaning workflow easier a lot by putting together nails & staples.
Finally, use a shop vac to suck away every piece of wood and sawdust to tidy up the space optimally.
Can you remove the tongue and groove flooring without damage?
Though it’s a time-consuming task, you can remove tongue and groove flooring without damage. Follow the video demonstration for a better understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hardwood floors be removed and reused?
Yes, you can remove and reuse hardwood floors as the hardwood surface is eco-friendly and durable. So, you don’t need to think twice about reusing hardwood planks for remodeling your home. At the same time, the old hardwood floors offer better aesthetic value compared to the new planks.
What can I do with unused hardwood floors?
You can make a table or benchtop for your outdoor relaxing with the hardwood floors that remain unused. Furthermore, your kids and teens can make some interesting DIY projects for home decorating, such as wall frames, signs, Christmas decorations, and many more ideas. Let your children decide that
How hard is it to remove hardwood floors?
Removing the hardwood floors will be a piece of cake if you don’t make a plan to reuse them. Just cut each of the planks into small sections and remove them. However, if you plan to reuse them, you need to put a lot of effort into prying the planks up with a pry bar.
How much does it cost to remove glued-down hardwood floors?
Both national and local home remodeling companies charge $2.50-$3.50 sq. feet to remove glued-down hardwood floors.
How do you store leftover hardwood floors?
It is recommended to store the leftover hardwood floors in a well-controlled environment. Never keep your hardwood planks in a place where the level of humidity is above 50%.
Conclusion
Removing the hardwood floor for reuse is a time-consuming task. But it will save you a lot of bucks when renovating your house as you don’t need to buy new planks for flooring.
And the steps we mentioned will help you how to remove hardwood flooring for reuse with ease. It requires just three simple steps:
- Get the necessary tools like a pry bar, a hammer, and others
- Use those tools to remove hardwood boards.
- Lastly, clean the area by disposing of those messes.
If you have any questions about this topic, read the FAQ sections. Alternatively, you can leave a comment below as we feel happy to help.