How to replace a plank in a hardwood floor?
A damaged floorboard in your hardwood floor is always an eyesore, but don’t worry - you don't have to lay the whole floor over again. Just replace the damaged plank by following these steps.
- First of all, make sure the undamaged part of your floor is well-protected before you start working. You can use an underlay or a piece of cloth.
- Mark the board you want to replace with tape. This will help you steer clear of the undamaged boards.
- Use your plunge saw to make two parallel cuts along the length of the plank. Leave 10 centimeters from the edge. Set the depth of your plunge saw to the exact thickness of your flooring boards to avoid cutting through the underlay and into the subfloor.
- Saw from the cuts in the middle out to the corners of the plank and go as close to the edge as possible.
- Lift out the first section of the plank with your hands. If that doesn’t work, use a chisel. Do the same thing for the remaining sections of the damaged floorboard. Vacuum the area to remove any dust.
- If you’ve accidentally damaged the underlay, apply some tape to fix it.
- Now it’s time to prepare your new plank.
- Take away the tape marking the damaged plank. You don’t need it anymore. Prepare the new plank by completely sawing off the long side’s lower groove. Be careful to only saw in the groove! Afterwards, compare the new plank with the one you’ve just removed to evaluate your result.
- Now saw 15 to 20 centimeters from the tongue on the plank’s long side. Do this on the opposite end of where you’re going to slide the plank in.
- Apply wood glue along the tongue on the floor that is already installed. Don’t overdo it. More glue is definitely not better.
- Slide your new plank into the opening as close to the short end as possible and click in the long side. Use the tapping block to tap the plank closer until it falls into place. Don’t forget to wipe off any excess glue.
- Finish by placing a minimum of 40 kg of weight on the new plank for at least two hours.
