Can anyone help me with a flooring repair question?

[iamwiz82]

http://www.infinitemile.com/gallery/misc/IMG_2337?full=1

The problem I discovered upon pulling up the carpet was that the 3/8" plywood above the 1"x6" subfloor planks was rotten in on corner of the room. I am in the process of cuting it out, however I'm at a loss as to how to cut the last 4-5" nearest the wall. I cannot get my reciprocating saw close enough and I don't have another way of cutting only 3/8" worth of plywood without chewing up the planks below.

What am I missing?

BTW, notice the beautiful green and grey linoleum? Yuck...

EDIT: Success! First I tried my reciprocating saw, but that was making a mess of the surrounding plywood, I then tried a pull saw, but that was slow and now too great close to the wall, but then the lightbulb over my head went off! Dremel! Finished in in no time.

I've replaced about 4 feet of plywood so far, need to cut down two more pieces and I'll be done with the repairs and I can then lay the new floor and fill in the gap between the wall and the floor with some insulation or perhaps foam spray, then install the quarter round molding and she'll be done

 

[Talon]

Use a hammer and wide wood chisel for the final few inches.

 

[dartworth]

that is not a reciprocating saw...

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: dartworth
that is not a reciprocating saw...

No, that's a circular saw. There is more to the room than just those few square feet you see.

 

[D1gger]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
http://www.infinitemile.com/gallery/misc/IMG_2337?full=1

The problem I discovered upon pulling up the carpet was that the 3/8" plywood above the 1"x6" subfloor planks was rotten in on corner of the room. I am in the process of cuting it out, however I'm at a loss as to how to cut the last 4-5" nearest the wall. I cannot get my reciprocating saw close enough and I don't have another way of cutting only 3/8" worth of plywood without chewing up the planks below.

What am I missing?

BTW, notice the beautiful green and grey linoleum? Yuck...

I would use a Sawsall.

 

[ManyBeers]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
http://www.infinitemile.com/gallery/misc/IMG_2337?full=1

The problem I discovered upon pulling up the carpet was that the 3/8" plywood above the 1"x6" subfloor planks was rotten in on corner of the room. I am in the process of cuting it out, however I'm at a loss as to how to cut the last 4-5" nearest the wall. I cannot get my reciprocating saw close enough and I don't have another way of cutting only 3/8" worth of plywood without chewing up the planks below.

What am I missing?

BTW, notice the beautiful green and grey linoleum? Yuck...

Get a good sharp chisel and have at it. It will do the job. Or you could remove the baseboard and use your Sawzall and cut it with that.

 

[dartworth]

why do you have to cut it?

I would remove the molding off the wall first, then use a wonder bar and start prying. Pry up as much as you can/want and cut/snap it off.

I went through the same thing in my kitchen. We ended up having to pull out a few hundred staples...

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: ManyBeers

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
http://www.infinitemile.com/gallery/misc/IMG_2337?full=1

The problem I discovered upon pulling up the carpet was that the 3/8" plywood above the 1"x6" subfloor planks was rotten in on corner of the room. I am in the process of cuting it out, however I'm at a loss as to how to cut the last 4-5" nearest the wall. I cannot get my reciprocating saw close enough and I don't have another way of cutting only 3/8" worth of plywood without chewing up the planks below.

What am I missing?

BTW, notice the beautiful green and grey linoleum? Yuck...

Get a good sharp chisel and have at it. It will do the job. Or you could remove the baseboard and use your Sawzall and cut it with that.

I usually get kind of... uhh... overzealous with my reciprocating saw. I'm trying not to destroy those plank . The chisel idea is probably the way I will go.

ON a side note, I'm amazed at how good the original floor is. it's coming up on 60 years old and the wood is in great condition.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: dartworth
why do you have to cut it?

I would remove the molding off the wall first, then use a wonder bar and start prying. Pry up as much as you can/want and cut/snap it off.

I went through the same thing in my kitchen. We ended up having to pull out a few hundred staples...

Because the plywood is only rotten about 1/3 of it's total distance, so I'm only removing that portion.

 

[Squisher]

You can rent a small circular saw (3"-4") that'll cut almost up to the wall.

EDIT: Now with more link

 

[dartworth]

For some reason, I thought you were going to finish the flooring under the plywood...

What kind of flooring are you going to put down?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: dartworth
For some reason, I thought you were going to finish the flooring under the plywood...

What kind of flooring are you going to put down?

No, I'm going to leave the plywood since it is even with the rest of the house. I'm putting laminate over top.

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82


No, I'm going to leave the plywood since it is even with the rest of the house. I'm putting laminate over top.

seems like a lot of unnecessary work...

anyways...take the baseboard off,cut the ends where you are into "good" wood and then it should just pry up.....if you hit the subfloor...it won't hurt anything.

 

[rhino56]

i always use a pull saw, ive installed threasholds into hardwood floors with them where your into a dead corner. i have even clipped the end of the saw blade back so the teeth are the furthest forward part. then a tiny bit to chisel out the stub in the corner.
http://www.asktooltalk.com/home/general/tools/jpullsaws/sharksaws/saws.html

 

[Ornery]

Hope you found the source of that moisture!

Remove the baseboard, and use a "Sawzall" with 12" (flexible) blade. Cut it along the wall with the saw horizontal to the floor.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Hope you found the source of that moisture!

Remove the baseboard, and use a "Sawzall" with 12" (flexible) blade. Cut it along the wall with the saw horizontal to the floor.

Whatever it was happened long ago. I'm assuming that it was a leak in the roof/ice dam, since that's an exterior wall. Never did any damage to the 1"x6" boards though. Thank goodness for the ugly linoleum .

 

[DrPizza]

How about spending 5 minutes with a utility knife?
I've done that before, rather than spend 20 minutes trying to figure out how to do it with the available power tools.

 

[Ornery]

Yeah, seriously could have been done by now!

BTW Tom, what's the scoop with your car?

 

[iamwiz82]

Success! First I tried my reciprocating saw, but that was making a mess of the surrounding plywood, I then tried a pull saw, but that was slow and now too great close to the wall, but then the lightbulb over my head went off! Dremel! Finished in in no time.

I've replaced about 4 feet of plywood so far, need to cut down two more pieces and I'll be done with the repairs and I can then lay the new floor and fill in the gap between the wall and the floor with some insulation or perhaps foam spray, then install the quarter round molding and she'll be done

 

[Ornery]

I'm guessing you don't have a variable speed trigger on that "Sawzall". That will be the day I use a Dremel for any serious work, let alone a substitute for my recipricating saw!

 

[iamwiz82]

My reciprocating saw has variable speed, but I have no fine blades for it.