In this video, This Old House removing a radiator will typically leave large holes in otherwise beautiful wood flooring. General contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner solve this exact problem in his new baby’s nursery.

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General contractor Tom Silva takes us on a road trip to help a homeowner patch holes in the floor left by the previous homeowner. With some of Tom's decades-old stock, the two set to work cutting and patching a piece into the floor. Then, once installed, Tom shows the homeowner how to finish the patch so it blends in perfectly.

Radiator systems require installers to drill holes through the floor. When it’s a finished wood floor, and the homeowner eventually removes the radiator, those holes become an eyesore. General contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner solve this exact problem in his new baby’s nursery, patching the floors with a “new” piece of wood milled to match the existing flooring.

Difficulty: ⅗
Cost: Under $40
Time: One day

Where to find it?
Tom Silva helps a homeowner patch holes in their wood floors left over from radiators previously removed.

Tom plans to cut straight across the two boards with holes to remove them, and then drop one board in to look like two.

A miter saw [https://amzn.to/3ALefR1] is used to rip the board to match the width of the existing floorboards. Then, a table saw [https://amzn.to/3LNfKVf] is used to cut the board to length. Adjusting the blade depth, Tom cuts in a shallow joint line, making sure the rip fence is 4-½” to the right of the blade.

An oscillating saw [https://amzn.to/3NxD62r] is used to cut a straight line across the old floor board. Then, a pry bar [https://amzn.to/3p036cH] and hammer [https://amzn.to/42kGylh] are used to gently pull up the old floor boards. Debris is then cleaned up with a HEPA vacuum [https://amzn.to/44jYAps].

Tom places the new board into place and face nails [https://homedepot.sjv.io/LXKM4Y] it secure using the original floors square cut nails. Finally, an orbital sander [https://amzn.to/3ngmeTf] is used to sand the board smooth. For the finishing touch, a coat of oil-based polyurethane [https://homedepot.sjv.io/AWPv27] is applied to the floor with a paintbrush [https://amzn.to/3VnYdpU].

Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH

Materials:
Matching wood [https://homedepot.sjv.io/WqyMAX]
Nails [https://homedepot.sjv.io/LXKM4Y]
Stain or varnish to match [https://homedepot.sjv.io/AWPv27]
180- to 220-grit sand paper [https://homedepot.sjv.io/OreMOn]

Tools:
Miter saw [https://amzn.to/3ALefR1]
Table saw [https://amzn.to/3LNfKVf]
Oscillating tool [https://amzn.to/3NxD62r]
Hammer [https://amzn.to/42kGylh]
Pry bar [https://amzn.to/3p036cH]
Random orbit sander [https://amzn.to/3ngmeTf]
Vacuum [https://amzn.to/44jYAps]
Foam brush [https://amzn.to/3VnYdpU]

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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How to Fill Pipe Holes in Wooden Floors | Ask This Old House
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