How to Pull Up an Old Hardwood Floor

Old hardwood that has buckled and warped might not be salvagable.

If you're renovating an older home and have decided the floors are no longer salvageable, you might be perplexed when it comes to removal. An old hardwood floor can be a tough opponent to pull up, but with the proper tools, you can manage the job. Before you tackle your old floor, it's a good idea to recruit a helper or two and plan for a weekend in case the pull up takes longer than expected.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Small pry bar
• Large pry bar
• Boxes or bins for scrap

Instructions

1. Remove the quarter round trim from the perimeter of the room by holding the curved edge of a small pry bar against the top of the quarter round and tapping the pry bar with a hammer. Repeat over each nail head until the quarter round has pulled from the wall.

2. Slide the curved edge of the large pry bar under the first plank of the first row of hardwood, using a back-and-forth motion until the bar is under the wood.

3. Tip the opposite end of the hammer away from the floor; the plank will pull up from the sub floor.

4. Repeat the process along the entire span of the floor, working row by row to pry up the hardwood flooring planks. Discard the loosened planks into boxes or bins to prevent injury from exposed nails.

5. Sweep the entire floor to remove all loose dirt and debris, noting any remaining nails that have pulled loose from the planks during removal.

6. Pull the remaining nails, using the claw end of a hammer to pry them from the sub floor.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact your local waste contractor beforehand and inquire as to the regulations for discarding used flooring.

• Always wear hand and eye protection when pulling up flooring.

• Never burn old flooring in a fireplace or wood-burning stove, as it may have been treated with unknown chemicals over the years.

References

• Wood Floor Installation Guide: Self-Installation Guide

Resources

• Find any Floor