How To Cut Out and Replace A Hardwood Flooring Plank (with pictures)

Is your refrigerator leaking? Did the dog have an accident, and you didn’t get to it fast enough? Maybe you gouged your beautiful wood floor dragging a couch across it? Don’t worry if your floor is damaged – we’ll show you how to replace a hardwood flooring plank (or three!). Cutting out and replacing damaged hardwood floor planks takes a bit of elbow grease, time, and the right set of tools – anyone can do it! If you have a scratch but don’t think the bamboo plank(s) needs replacing, learn how to refinish bamboo flooring.

In this post, we provide a simple guide to removing and repairing your scratched, stained, and otherwise damaged flooring planks back to their beautiful best! Water damage can also affect sub-floors, so you may need to study up on how to fix a water damaged sub-floor before you begin effectively.

petstainoak
Pet Stained Oak Floor
Water Damaged Oak Floor
Water Damaged Oak Floor
waterdamageeucalyptus
Water Damaged Eucalyptus Floor

Tools needed:

  • Circular Saw
  • Miter Saw
  • Oscillating Multi-Tool with MT1-AC12 accessory
  • Rubber Mallet
  • Crowbar
  • Flathead Screwdriver
  • Flooring Adhesive
  • Trowel
  • Adhesive Remover Towels
  • Wood Flooring Adhesive
  • Adhesive Trowel
ADHESIVE REMOVER TOWELS
ADHESIVE REMOVER TOWELS
CIRCULAR SAW
CIRCULAR SAW
CROWBAR
CROWBAR
FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER
FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER
MITER SAW
MITER SAW
MULTI-TOOL ACCESSORY
MULTI-TOOL ACCESSORY
MULTI-TOOL
MULTI-TOOL
RUBBER MALLET
RUBBER MALLET
ADHESIVE TROWEL
ADHESIVE TROWEL
FLOOR ADHESIVE
FLOOR ADHESIVE

Step 1. Using the circular saw, carefully cut along the plank’s seams, keeping inside the plank’s edge by a half-inch. Make sure you are cutting all the way through the plank. Next, cut across the plank center connecting the two previous cuts to form an “H.”

Circular Saw Cutting Along Seams

Circular Saw Cutting Along Seams 2

Cut Seams In Flooring Plank

Step 2. Go over all of the previous cuts that were made with the circular saw with the oscillating multi-tool. This ensures that the cuts will have gone down to the subfloor.

Use Multi Tool To Finish Cutting Through Plank

Step 3. Wedge the flathead screwdriver into the center cut and tap it down using your rubber mallet. You will want to use a combination of tapping and prying, which will begin to lift a portion of the plank. The goal is to create a large enough gap to fit the end of the crowbar.

Use Flat Head Screw driver To Pry

Step 4. Once you can tap the crowbar into the cut, you will have more leverage to pry up the plank pieces. After hammering and prying with the crowbar for a bit, you should be able to remove the plank pieces with your hands carefully.

Pry Up One Half Of The Plank By Hand

Use Mallet And Crowbar To Pry Up Plank

Step 5. Bring out the oscillating multi-tool again. You will use this to scrape up any dried glue and cut and remove any plank’s remaining pieces. After all glue and plank pieces have been removed, you will be ready to start to glue (how to glue down bamboo flooring).

Use Multi Tool To Loosen Remaining Pieces.

Step 6. Measure out how long your replacement plank needs to be and cut it using the miter saw. If you are replacing a plank with a whole plank, you might need to trim down either the tongue or the bottom groove for the plank to fall in place.

Use Miter Saw To Cut Each Plank To Poper Lengths

Step 7. Open up the pail of glue and make sure that it isn’t dried out or separating. Carefully spread the glue, making sure to completely cover the subfloor from edge to edge with an even coat.

Use Proper Flooring Adhesive.

Use Proper Trowel And Spread Glue Evenly

Ensure Proper Glue Coverage And Set Times

Step 8. If needed, gently tap the plank into place with the rubber side of the mallet. Lots of little taps are recommended over powerful hits. As the plank slides into place, glue might accumulate and get on top of the plank. You will want to make sure to wipe up the majority of the glue with a paper towel. Next, go over the same area with multiple adhesive remover towels. Finally, it is recommended to wipe up any residue with paper towels. That way, you will tell if there is a haze from any glue left on the surface. You may need to repeat this process.

Gently Press Plank Into Place

95UseMalletToTapPlankIntoFinalPosition

Remove Excess Glue

97UseAdhesiveRemoverWipesToWipeUpExcessGlue

Step 9. Press down with your hands to ensure the plank is pressed into the glue sufficiently. Tap the plank’s surface with the rubber mallet to center the plank to where the seams are uniform. You may want to weigh down the plank with a heavy object overnight.

98gentlypressplankintoplace

99UseMalletToTapOnSurfaceOfPlankForSmallAdjustments.jpg

991properrepairwillbehardtonoticeifdonecorrectly

NOW CHECKOUT OUT YOUR JOB WELL DONE!

BEFORE PLANK REPLACEMENT993after-with-arrows

AFTER PLANK REPLACEMENT992before-with-arrows

When done properly, you won’t even be able to tell any work has been done!

Flooring Samples

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