by Sam Wood | Last Updated: 29/10/2020How to lift floorboards without breaking them
This is a question people ask me all the time, how do you lift a floorboard without completely destroying it? Over the years of working as a professional joiner, I have lifted a lot of floorboards and picked up a few tips and tricks. Either watch the video above or read on to find out my preferred method of lifting floorboards.
Don’t just use a chisel
Don’t try and lift a floorboard by just shoving a chisel down the side and lifting. You will damage the side of floorboard which may result in it not going back down correctly.
Use a screw
Insert a screw into the top of the floorboard. You can then use a hammer to get leverage on the floorboard and begin to lift it. Make sure you put a wood block under the hammer to prevent it from causing any damage itself.
Do this on both sides
Repeat the same process again on the other side of the floorboard, you should hear a lot of creaking and begin to see the floorboard lifting.
Now use a chisel
Now you have got the board part lifted you can use a chisel. Again make sure it is resting on a wooden block so it doesn’t cause any damage to the floorboard underneath it.
Repeat and move down the floorboard
Repeat the process again while moving down the floorboard. Don’t try and lift it all at once, this should be a gradual process. Moving carefully and methodically is the best way to avoid damaging the floorboard.
Done!
