If you’re planning on laying new wood flooring and need to remove old wood flooring that needs replacing to make way for it, there are several things you need to bear in mind. The first thing to ascertain is how the old floor has been laid. Has it been laid using a nail-down, glue-down or floating method of installation? This is important because the method of installation will affect how you should remove the old wood flooring that needs replacing.
It is also useful at the outset to establish if the old wood flooring that needs replacing is solid wood flooring or engineered wood flooring. You will be able to tell if it is solid wood flooring because it will be made of planks created from one piece of wood. Engineered wood flooring on the other hand is made up of layers of different woods topped by solid wood.
From a health and safety, and a practical point of view, it is also worth finding out whether there is any under floor electricity cabling or under floor heating under the floor. If you are the owner of the home where you’re looking to remove old wood flooring that needs to be replaced, you’re likely to know the answers to these questions. If however, you’re in the process of renovating a house you’ve just bought, these are questions worth bearing in mind when you see the previous owners.
Beyond these basic considerations, there’s the broader health and safety issues you’ll need to take into consideration when removing old wood flooring that needs replacing, for example, wearing protective eye-gear and gloves if necessary. You’ll also need to make sure you have access to suitable tools, for example, a chisel, a crowbar and a hammer as well having as a good idea how to use them safely. If your floor was installed using a nail down or floating method it should be relatively straightforward to remove, but if it’s glued-down, it will take a bit of time and some perseverance.
Finally, if you’re hoping you recycle your old wood flooring, it’s essential that you take your time and a lot of care when removing it. In this case, it’s essential that you protect the look of your flooring to the best of your ability.