Revamping your home's flooring involves various considerations such as style, budget, and resale value. However, one crucial factor often overlooked is the time and effort required to remove existing flooring before installing new ones. If you're content with your current floor's look, simply replacing damaged sections might suffice.
For those opting for a complete transformation, there are ways to streamline the process efficiently. To tackle the initial step of pulling up old floors, many DIY enthusiasts swear by a single tool: the Zenith floor lifter. Priced at $30, this versatile tool is designed to pull, pry, and lift, making the removal of hardwood and tile floors a breeze without the need for multiple tools.
Pull up old floors with just one tool
Influencers and DIY enthusiasts seem to love the Zenith floor lifter because of its ease of use and versatility. Indeed, it comes in handy every step of the way. For example, if you're taking out wooden floors, you can use the built-in nail puller to save hours from the get-go. Instead of wrestling with individual nails or staples, just run the tool over each of them and watch them easily pop out. Once that's done, use a hammer to drive the floor lifter under each floorboard individually. Its unique middle wedge does most of the work for you, prying up each panel until it comes loose, so you don't need to struggle to get them off. What's more, you can use the same tool to pull up subflooring and then put it to work removing moldings and baseboards. Just hammer it behind the panel in question and wriggle it gently to remove it without damaging the wall underneath.
If you're dealing with ceramic tiles, you can use the Zenith floor lifter in the exact same way. A good hack to get started is to scrape away grout and chisel away just one tile, giving yourself room to insert the floor lifter and pry up the rest.
Can you upcycle old flooring?
If you've been careful in removing your wood flooring or tiles and want to reduce waste, there are many creative ways to upcycle the old materials. For example, you can use any small intact tiles to create a set of coasters just by gluing cork to the underside. Meanwhile, bigger tiles can be used to refresh a side table. Simply stick them to the surface using tile adhesive, then place grout in between and voila. And if tiny pieces are all you've got left, you can glue magnets to them and make some fun fridge decor.
Repurposing rescued wood opens up a world of DIY possibilities. One popular project involves transforming old floorboards into stylish shelving units. Simply cut the wood to your desired lengths and secure them in place using shelf brackets. Another creative idea is to craft a unique photo frame by joining four pieces of flooring cut at a 45-degree angle. For those looking for a more advanced challenge, consider constructing a benchtop using the reclaimed boards. The woodworking experts at the Sawdust Sisters suggest attaching a piece of plywood to the bench frame, then affixing the old flooring on top in a pattern of your choice using glue and nails. To add a finishing touch, use some of the floorboards as trim to cover the edges of the bench.
