How to Replace Boards on Hardwood Floors

Replacing damaged boards in your hardwood floor is a great way to bring back the floor's natural beauty. Floor boards can become damaged over time for a variety of reasons, which can include excessive use or even water damage. Repairing a damaged floor requires only a few tools and some general carpentry skills.

It is important to remove the boards carefully when making repairs because this type of floor is a tongue and groove construction which interlocks each piece into the next.

Step One - Use a power drill with a 3/4 inch bit to drill a hole in the center of the damaged board on each end. Be very careful to drill only through the hardwood and not into the subfloor.

Step Two - Use a circular power saw to cut a line between the two holes drilled in the previous step. This will cut the damaged board into halves. Again, cut only the hardwood and not the piece of underlying subfloor.

Step Three - Insert a small pry bar into the cut and pull the pieces out. Do not damage the adjoining tongue or groove pieces.

Step Four - Measure and cut the new board to fit into the existing hole.

Step Five - Remove the groove edge from the new board. Use your saw to do this. Insert the tongue edge of the new board into the groove edge of the existing adjacent board on the floor. The new board should drop easily into place. If the board is too tight, whittle a little wood from the side where the groove was trimmed off.

Step Six - Nail the board in place and remember to countersink the nail heads. This should be done with a special countersinking tool which will place the heads just below the surface. Fill the nail heads with wood filler if desired.

Step Seven - Finally, sand and finish the new board to match the existing floor.