DIY Supermarket

Anyone who wants to sand their floorboards to get that elegant natural wood look will need them to be in good condition. If they’re damaged, the aesthetic appeal will be undermined. Happily, provided damage caused by woodworm or damp is properly treated before going any further, you won’t be faced with the prospect of a full property development makeover. Forget about architects and building expertise – a DIY novice can replace damaged wood in much less time than the average painting and decorating job, and it’s a lot easier than plastering.

Pry up the damaged section close to the nail using a wide bolster chisel, and proceed along the length of the board unit it comes free (with tongue and groove boards, you’ll have to trim the tongue off using a saw before you can begin pry and lifting). If a nail just won’t budge, you can knock it through the board into the joist with a nail-punch.

Knock the nails out as you go – they can be dangerous. Sometimes, you’ll find little segments of board which have been lifted previously to install plumbing or wiring. Just screw in some batten along the joists where these boards were – it’ll help the new board lie properly. Boards which look badly worn on one side may look as good as new underneath – just flip them over and re-use them. Once you’ve got all the damaged wood lifted, nail or screw down the new boards, and make sure no nail and screw heads are protruding. Time to begin sanding!