Need advice on subfloor

[fargoman]

I've just noticed there's a soft spot on my floor around my front door.

Would using a circular saw be the best way for cutting the rotten wood out and do you think a reciprocating saw may be helpful for this project in any way? I was thinking of using a stud finder for locating the floor joist.


I really appreciate your help

[JD]

The easiest way for me to find a floor joist on a particle board floor is with a hammer. Give the floor a good whack and it will bust our a section. If it is water damaged, it takes little effort. I work me out at least a 6" hole, stick my tape in there and measure to the edge of the floor joist. Add 3/4" and make a mark. Do this at both ends of your cut, and you got your line on top of the joist. A circular or worm drive saw set to the exact depth is used there and the diagonal cut across the floor if it is away from the wall. I only use the reciprocating along the wall to get real close. Be aware and careful of electrical wires and plumbing. Again, knocking out a hole for inspection can help. When removing large sections of floor, I will cut between each floor joist to allow the section of floor to be leveraged out. A lot easier than trying to pull up floor that is nailed to more than one joist.

If you are talking about walls, I usually pry paneling and wreck/demo sheetrock.

JMO

JD

[Greg]

Most of us use both, Like JD said set the circular saw so it just goes through the sub floor usually 3/4" and cut the area out smaller than what you need untill you know for sure where the joists are. You may need to sister a joist together to give yourself something to attach the new section to.
Also you may need a 3/4" chisel if you need to get under or next to a wall. Greg

[fargoman]

Thanks guys if I have any more questions I'll come back.