Household Repairs Floor board weak, rotten. If entire board is gone, replace it. To remove, split it lengthwise in several places and pry it out from the center toward the edges. Be careful not to damage tongue and groove of adjacent boards. To set in new board in a tongue-and-groove floor, chisel off the bottom part of the grooved edge. Tongue of new board can then be slipped into groove of adjoining board, and grooved edge will fit over tongue of the other adjoining board.

If only a small part of a floor board is defective, locate position of nearest joists and draw pencil lines across the top of the floor to mark these. Then drill 1" holes in the corners between the pencil lines and the edges of the bad board. With a keyhole saw cut across the two pencil lines from hole to hole. The saw cuts should be almost flush with the inner edges of the joists. Split defective board and pry it out. Nail 1" by 3" boards to the sides of the joists under the hole. Cut new board to fit the opening. Remove bottom part of the grooved edge. Then set in and nail.

Columns rotting. See column.




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November 21, 2008