Removing/Reusing tongue n groove wooden floor...can it be done?
 

I was at an Estate sale today and scored some awesome deals. The multi-million $$$ house is going to be torn down within the next few weeks. While walking through I was taken aback by the beautiful 1000 sq foot prefinished tongue and groove wooden floor. I asked if I could possibly purchase. The guy said if you want to take it give me $200. Hmmm, the wheels started spinning.

So, the question is, what does it take to pull up? Can I go in there with a sawzall/metal blade and remove? I'm not 100% sure how they're installed so I figured I'd ask the experts.

Any advice.....?

Pro,

Because the air nailer/stapler pulls the planks too tight to the subfloor?

The fasteners go through the tongues of *every* plank but the last ones up against the walls.

Tearing out destroys the tongues.


KT

But if I slice under with a sawzall will that make life good?

I'm not looking to tear up.

You might be able to remove it with a sawzall, remove all the nail stubs, and have a millwork shop redimension it. Then after it is reinstalled, have a pro come in and refinish. Or you could take the cheap route and buy brand new flooring.

It might make a little more ecomomic sense to look at the flooring in BTUs. You wouldn't have to pull the nails, remill or refinish it that way.

Unless you are talking about something like 6 or 8 inch walnut plank, or maybe some real nice heart pine, I wouldn't bother.

Ed

I tore out a 30 square foot t&g floor recently and it took a couple hours. That was "not saving it".

You're brave.;)


KT

Take a Skilsaw and plunge cut the first run on both sides of the room, pull it up w/ a catsfoot or prybar and you'll have access to whatever fasteners were used and "go nuts" from there. It could be time consuming, but if it's good hardwood you made a helluva deal.

I have done it often as I renovate houses for a job. The method I use is the same as the Craigster. Use two prybars and take your time. The stuff is worth so much money. Here in New Zealand replacement lengths of tongue and groove are about USD$8 a meter so I tend to take care. When removing small sections, or starting and area, I cut the tongue out with a sabre saw then start lifting from that side pulling the lenghts out one by one. You only need to saw the tongue out of the first one then start from there.

Great info gents, thanks!
I'll see if I can do a test area and if it's stupid hard I'll call it a day. They're razing the house anyway so nothing to lose.

Salvage is getting to be a big business. I was at a wharehouse last weekend where they had thousands of sq ft of salvaged T&G hardwood. It can be done... the guy said they have about 20% waste. They used long 3' steel wedges that they hammer underneath the flooring, gradually lifting it up almost as a roll. They seperate it in 3' sections and then remove individual boards once they get it back to the warehouse.

try to cut a deal that you pay only after an attempt to get it up? maybe?

That's what I plan to do. The people were very cool so I think it may fly.

A good wood shop can put in new t&G or you might have an excuse for a couple of neat new tools!!!!

Good, old wood is worth it IMHO!

Even at a yield of 50%, 500 square feet of flooring for $200 is a steal.