Replacing A Damaged Tongue-And-Groove Board In 7 Easy Steps

Damaged board paneling reacts well to a variety of techniques for repairing minor scratches and slashes, dents, and even deep gouges. But if the damaged paneling is too severe, you may want to replace one or more of the damaged tongue and groove boards. Be sure to carefully match any new paneling and its finish with neighboring boards. Below are 7 easy steps to follow for replacing a damaged Tongue-and- Grove board within your home.

Step One: Place a pry-bar between the baseboard and wall. Once there is a gap between the board and the wall, place wood wedges in the gap. Pry off the baseboard and remove the remaining nail with a hammer.

Step Two: With a circular saw, saw down the center of the damaged Tongue-and-Groove board. Once the board is sawed in two, split the ends using a chisel.

Step Three: Use a broad-blade pry-bar to wedge off the sections of the board from the wall one side at a time.

Step Four: Next cut the replacement board to length with the damaged Tongue-and-Groove board by placing the damaged board over the replacement and mark the correct length with a pencil.

Step Five: Using a mallet to hold the new board, use blocks of wood to protect the surface of the new Tongue-and-Groove board, and cut off the back of the boards groove with a wood chisel.

Step Six: Starting at the ceiling, fit the replacement board with the damaged old board’s adjacent neighbor and slip in into place. Continue fitting in the tongue with the adjacent board until you reach the flooring.

Step Seven: Using a padded block and soft cloth, tap the new board in place. Add finishing nails to the top and bottom of the new Tongue-and-Groove board. Make sure to fill in the nail holes with wood putty and finish for appearance. Once you have replaced the baseboard, you have completed replacing a damaged Tongue-and-Groove board.