Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Subfloor Removal

We want to replace our wall-to-wall carpeting with a hardwood floor. We need to remove the particle board subfloor so as to maintain a level surface between two adjoining rooms. I pulled up the carpet and it looks as though the particle board goes under at least the baseboard. It also appears that we have 3/4" plywood under the particle board.

Is there a saw that will allow me to cut through the particle board while being almost flush with the baseboard? I figure my circular saw can not get close enough.

Take a nail punch and drive the nails in the baseboards through and remove the baseboards. Then, remove the subfloor. The baseboard and quarter round will need to cover the expansion gap along the perimeter of the wood flooring.

http://www.installingwoodfloors.com

Thanks for info. I have heard about this technique for removing crown mouldings. The thing I can't figure out is how to find the nail heads to target with the nail punch when there is a decent caulking/filler job. Can you share the secret?

CB:

First use a utility knife to cut the caulk line at the drywall and baseboard area. Once that's completed take a pry bar(wonder bar) and lift from underneath if possible. If you wiggle it enough the nailhole putty/caulk will pop out and you'll be able to see where the nails are located.

Ken Fisher

www.floridawoodfloors.net

you can use an undercut saw used by floorcoveringt installers its kind of a specialty saw. some installers will rent them out or if you cannot get ahold of one you could use a sawzall it would be a slow process but it would be alot easier to get ahold of if you dont have one

Is this what you are looking for?


http://www.craintools.com/specialty_saws/785%20color.gif

http://www.craintools.com/specialty_saws/785act.gif


Call your nearest distributor, and see if they carry CRAIN Tools.

:) Thanks to you all for the advice.

I went with the sawsall to cut the particleboard subflooring under the built-in bookcases. It wasn't as pretty as could be done with the flooring saw in the picture above but it got the job done

Rather than try to look for nail holes to punch out, I was careful in prying the moulding so as not to damage/split the wood. I didn't cut the caulking on the first piece and had to spend time puttying in the paper tears! I removed the nails in the moulding gently with a pair of "gooseneck" pliers which left no holes on the finished surface. This meant fewer holes to putty in when the moulding was renailed.

Again, thanks for the help. Meanwhile you should have seen what was under the subfloor...not-to-code 3/8" plywood. It's amazing the corners builders will cut these days.