Hello all. It sure helps to have a beta test when trying something new, in this case installing a hardwood floor, because you can work out any problems. Maybe the tools aren't right or maybe you can find ways to streamline the process. And sometimes those problems fall into the "operator error" category (even if the operator was the original contractor).
There are several "thou shall nots" when installing a wood floor and most of them pertain to layout to avoid placing seams too close together. Like we did here.
There's a straightforward if not easy way to deal with such a problem, that you might also need if you have to replace a bad board in an existing floor. You mark out the section you want to remove (in this case some inches above and below the neighboring seam) and cut the piece out.
The main difficulty is how careful you need to be to avoid damaging the surrounding flooring. After all, it didn't do anything wrong. Another key is making the cuts as clean as possible so they are less noticeable after you put in the replacement board.
In our case this meant a lot of quality time with the dremel saw, hammer, and chisel to remove the old.
Then because you're installing a piece into a slot about the only way to get it around the tongue-and-grooves of the existing flooring is to remove the lower part of the groove and the tongue without disturbing the top (visible) part of the board. Fortunately setting the height and depth of the table saw makes quick work of this.
Finally after trimming the length to get it just right you topnail the replacement into place and only you are the wiser. For all you kids at home remember that it is FAR easier and faster to fix a problem at the moment you make it than afterward.
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