My enemy is particle board?

Question

I have a new enemy, and its name is particle board. I recently moved into a house built in 1914. It was renovated in the 1970's, but has been pretty much left since then. Under the nasty carpeting in my house lives - beautiful heart of pine floors! A major selling point for sure! Under 3/4 of the house, the carpet is right over the hardwood, making for an easy pull up and refinish. Unfortunately, my large den is not as easy. I have discovered particle board on top of the hardwood. NOW - each piece of carpet is a mystery! A few test spots show that some of the room has pretty hardwood, and some simply plywood. Maybe the particle board is there to make up the difference in level. I am HOPING that it isn't there to conceal damaged wood. The particle board is AWFUL to get up. I have been working in small sections. (I truly have all the time in the world) and trying to pry up the enormous nails with a hammer, but the particle board fights me everywhere. I have to gouge out sections near the nails to get them up, and everything falls apart. I do not have money to spend on this at all. But, maybe there is a better technique? One that doesn't require expensive tools or contractors?

Answer 1

You don't say how thick the particle board is.  If it's only 1/4" or so (and from the 70's), it should break up fairly easily.  If it's 3/4", then it's a bit more work.  Nibble around the nails to get the heads exposed, then you can pull them with a good pry bar.  I am partial to the flat style bar that's about 12-14" long and curved on one end.  I use a pair of them side by side a couple of feet apart to pry large pieces.  Once you get a largish patch opened up, see if the sheets can be snapped along the nail rows by wedging a flat bar under the particle board.  Then the nails will be easier to deal with.  Small scratches in the wood floor are unavoidable, but should come out with sanding in the re-finish.  Try not to gouge the floor by using a heavy hammer to get the pry bar under the particle board.  Gentle taps should be sufficient.  If the existing wood floor under the particle board is damaged, then there's always laminate flooring.  Look for the type that does NOT use glue.  It's easier to work with.  You might even find a version that comes close to the old floor.

Answer 2

It is a lot of work, but maybe with some different tools it would go smoother.I use a japanese style double ended nail puller to get the nail head up some, just hammer the nail puller into the particle board under the nail head and pry up. Then use a pry bar for removing the nail if the hammer is not working for you. If the nail in long and you are using a pry bar, put the hammer under the bar, it will give you more pulling length.

Here are the tools that may help

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stor...

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stor...

Answer 3

Carpet the den, a cozy retreat from the rest of the house. You are not going to get a decent floor out of this and it sounds like way too much hard work. You should be a ble to get a room size remnant cheaply- enjoy the hardwood everywhere else.