Oak Salvage
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009Oak Salvage
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Warped boards, oak floor any way to restore?
We just discovered an oak floor under the subfloor in our kitchen. Unfortunately, 2 of the boards are warped. The remaining floor is slightly damaged but fixable. I really want to save the floor. Short of going to a salvage yard and hoping to find similar boards does anyone know of any secrets. Most say it can't be done but i have seen 2 methods on line. Have you tried any? 1) drill holes; wet board; then screw board down and fill holes (I don't think this would allow for the natural expansion/contraction) 2) remove boards; wet and place heavy object or vice straight and allow to dry in sun. I would greatly appreciate any advice, especially if you have been successful! Thank you! Christian
Treating Warped and De-Laminated Floors After Flooding
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Some warped wood flooring is repairable and some is
not. The extent of damage will depend partly on the kind
of material used in the floor. Different woods react
differently to dampness or flooding.
Plywood
Many homes have plywood subfloors. Plywood usually
separates (de-laminates) from excessive moisture. This
will make the covering material (carpet, sheet-flooring
or tile) buckle.
If only a small section of the subfloor has
separated, replace that section with new plywood. If the
entire floor has de-laminated, either remove the entire
subfloor and replace it, or renail new plywood over the
old. Consult a reliable contractor for this work.
Hardwood
Badly warped hardwood floors usually can't be
repaired. If the floor is obviously beyond repair, take
it up and discard it. Allow subflooring to dry for
several months before installing another floor over it.
To repair slightly warped hardwood floors:
1. Clean and dry the floor completely before attempting
any repairs. This may take weeks or even months.
2. If the floor is still warped in places when it is dry,
remove strips adjacent to the bulges, and plane them on
their edges. This will give space for the warped boards to
flatten out in time. (If boards are tongue and grooved,
consult a carpenter about the special techniques necessary
for this work.)
3. You may be able to draw some buckled flooring into
place by nailing the bulged spots. Some humps may be
removed by planing or sanding. Heavily planed or sanded
floors, though unsuitable to be used uncovered, can serve
as a base for new flooring, or carpet or resilient floor
covering.
Pine
Warped wide pine board flooring will often flatten out
after it has thoroughly dried. Clean the floor and let it
dry for several months. Using the furnace as much as
possible during the drying time will speed up the process.
(Do not build fires to hasten drying.) Do not try to
repair the floor until it is dry. If any boards are still
slightly warped when dry, use the same technique as for
warped hardwood floors.
When laying a new floor or subfloor, remove baseboards
and molding. The finished floor should be the same level
as the original floor, if possible. If floor level
changes, doors must be refitted to the new level. Consult
a carpenter before attempting this work.
This article was written by Anne Field, Extension
Specialist, Emeritus, with reference from the USDA
Disaster Handbook.
