Make a Hardwood Floor Patch
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- www.ronhazelton...
Learn how to disguise a patch job in a hardwood floor; includes step-by-step instructions along with finishing tips, materials, and tools lists.
Not too long ago, I widened a doorway and installed French doors between our living room and family room. I was pleased with the way the project turned out, but there was a little repair work left to do afterward. When I removed a portion of the wall, I had to put in several new strips of flooring. This left me with two problems: the strips were slightly higher than the surrounding floor and they were unfinished. I needed to level the floor and then match the color of the finish. Here is the process I used.
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Transcript:
Well, a few days ago, I made this entryway into the dining room a little bit wider and in doing so I exposed some flooring right down here that is in pretty rough shape compared to the flooring around it. So I know I'm going to have to replace at least two boards.
Now before I start performing surgery on my hardwood floors right here, let's just take a look at how a typical flooring system like this works. This is three quarter inch thick, solid oak, tongue and groove. A groove has been milled on this side and a tongue on this side. Now, when this is put down, typically it's nailed right through the base of the tongue, the nail goes through at an angle. You can see it sticking out right down here and then the groove of the next board just slips right over that tongue. The result is there are no nails visible on the surface, which is great, gives you a good looking floor, but it makes it a little tough to take one or two pieces out. In fact, the only way I know to do it is to actually split pieces by cutting right down the center and that's what I'm going to do.
I'm setting the blade depth on the circular saw just deep enough to cut through the flooring. This is called a plunge cut and should be done very cautiously. With the saw running, I lower it slowly until the base plate is resting firmly on the floor, then push the saw forward. To make the end cuts I first score a line using a utility knife, then set the edge of a chisel into the hollow groove left by the knife blade. Using a series of straight and angled chisel cuts I can slice quickly and neatly all the way through the plank. With the end cuts made and the board cut down the middle I can now begin prying it out. Once the first piece is removed, the rest comes more easily.
Well, I've gotten those two boards out fairly cleanly, very happy with the way that turned out, so that takes care of the hole right here, which we will replace those and a little bit. Now though, I've got to resurface this part of the floor that was up underneath the old wall and I think the best tool for this is going to be a belt sander. Since my main objective right now is to remove material I'm using a rather coarse belt, 60 grit in this case.
This is cleaning up very nicely and I've gotten to the point now where I can put in those two pieces of wood that were damaged and I had to remove. Now, you will notice the only way I'm going to get this in because of this groove is to cut off the bottom half of this groove right here. And that will allow this piece just to drop in. I've set the table saw blade just high enough to make the cut I need. Next, I'll mark the length of the board and cut it the size on the miter saw. OK, so we've got a fit going here. I repeat the process for the second board, give everything a few taps and now, that's what I'd call a good fit, even if I do say so myself.
Now, because of the way we put this down, it's not possible to edge nail it through the tongue. The only choice is to face nail it and that's what I'm doing right now.
The trickiest parts of a flooring repair job like this is touching up or matching the finish. Now, if you look over here at the section of the floor, you'll see that this is an oak floor and that all the boards really are different colors and different grain patterns and I'm going to use that to my advantage, because if I can break the finish, that is the break between the old finish and a new finish, along the edge of a board like this or at the end of a board like this, the eye is really not going to notice the difference because there's so much natural variation.
So I've taken the finish off this board, this one, this one and this one. This one I haven't, you see? I sanded it back to here, what I want to do now as we move the finish back to this joint right here.
Absolutely what I was looking for. Great job with refinishing to each joint, letting the color variation work for you.
The best video I’ve seen to clearly show how to tooth-in/patch new flooring to existing. Well done!👍
I reached out to a few handymen/hardwood floor contractors and everyone is suggesting me to sand my whole ground floor after patching the damaged locations. They are quoting me anywhere from $2K to $5.5 for the whole job! Only 4 panels are damaged. I am going to give this a try! Thank you very much for the video!
May I ask how you find a perfect matching stain? My hardwood stain looks just like that and with different color variations.
How did you know I was just about to do that? I'll use construction adhesive and hope I never have to pull these up. Great instructional video as usual.
What Shellac did you use ? Clear or Amber ?
Love the videos too. Always very professional and informative.
Create the ‘illusion’ of a joint, 👍
Use shellac - or ‘She-lac’ to match yellow
Awesome job and very nice video, I need to do some repairs and you cover all my doubts, thank you very much
Great video, but what kind of shellac did you use? All of the ones I can find specifically say NOT to be used under polyurethane.
Gosh, I watch this video and realize how much I can over thinking projects, this making them very hard to come out beautifully. I’m glad I watched your video prior to replacing my hardwood boards. I have to remind myself sometimes to Keep It Simple!!! Thank you!!
The peace will definitely not drop in as illustrated in the fancy animation. The tongue would have to go in first. That's not happening in my case no way.
If you watch how he does the second board ... tilt the board, insert tongue and rotate board into place. For some awkward patches you might have to cut part of the tongue off.
The cut made on the table saw and a fancy illustration, was not enough in my case, to just to just drop in from the top. The tongue would also have to be removed.
Why not glue it and forgo the nails?
High traffic area. Should glue and nail.
Great video, having a hard time finding replacement floor pieces. Any recommendations? Thanks
Most lumber yards will have red/white oak flooring strips in random lengths. It is sold as 2 1/2" but finishes out as 2". This matches most oak strip floors from the 50's through 60's
What type of nails are recommended here? Did you use a Brad nailer or a finish nailer?
Hi Ron , Have A Happy Thanksgiving My Friend !! 😊🦃
Can I cut that groove off with a circular saw? THIS IS A FANTASTIC VIDEO btw
If you set the blade depth correctly, and cut from the back, yes. Clamp the boards and make sure the foot of the saw is well supported.
nice job Ron!
Does the heater make a lot of noise while in use, & how long does it last for?
I’m doing this exact job and I am SOOOOO excited to find your video. THANK U
YOU!!!
This is the method I was shown a long time ago, and it works. No need to resand an entire floor if you only have a few damaged boards.
I would be impressed if someone could duplicate Bruce Hardwood finish.
Great job. Really enjoy your videos. Thank you
Wow, great job!!
Fabulous! THANK YOU! Subscribed!
sweet. very straight forward and you covered all my questions without me asking them
Love your videos. keep the video's coming
Nice patch but why is there a bloody big hole just around the corner?
Vent
Thank you for this beautiful detail work. 🙏🙏🙏🥋
very informative. Might I suggest finding a less condescending way to correct your camerawoman? Or not at all, as somethings she said didn't elicit a response
Zzzz....
Beautiful job sir, thank you for the video
Just what I needed. Thanks!
Why not use glue instead of a nail?
Really great job!
Great vid. One question though, what is the tool used to scrape the finish off? THANKS
I use Linbide scrapers. Do a google search
That's a great job!
Nice job Ron.
Nice instruction
Great video! Thx
Excellent
What a pro!
Excelente
Thanks
Wow! Great job!!
Excellent work.
How many parts of alcohol to shellac?
until you achieve the color you are looking for which is hard to know until it dries so I guess you'd have to experiment
Great work