Tearing Up Hardwood Floors

Pry up the first few boards to give yourself room to work.

Tearing up hardwood floors.

You can cut each section into approximately one to two feet wide portions. So cutting them into smaller pieces of wood makes it easier to pry up. Alternatively use a circular saw with a carbide tooth blade to make a plunge cut along the length of the sacrificial board and use a pry. Cut the hardwood flooring perpendicular to the direction the flooring is lying.

Then we came up with this one which. We used several techniques that we found very uncomfortable. This is helpful because hardwood planks are all different lengths and make it really tough to remove quickly. If necessary go over the area again with a vacuum or mop to clear away any especially fine dust remaining.

By cutting the boards into small sections removal will go faster and smoother. Make sure to set your saw blade to the thickness of your hardwood flooring so as to not damage the sub flooring. Take down the tarps roll them up carefully and move them outside to be cleaned or thrown away.