In years that followed, I have burned the motor up in the drill. The impact is still around, but is a tired machine. Replaced by newer and more powerful models, only pulled from retirement when needed.

The bit case…. The bits are either lost or stripped.

But the case is still going strong.

Depending on the floor above, you can remove one or two joist at a time. It is best to lean toward one joist, but with the hardwood floors tying the subfloor together, I am given the opportunity to remove two joist.

The removal process, involves a circular saw ripping down the length twice. This does not need to be pretty. The goal is to create a wide gap, to release pressure created between the bottom and top of the joist.

For this project, a flooring contractor had added new treads to this staircase. Where carpet use to be on the risers, were holes from the tack strip and staples. The risers were made of MDF, as well as skirt boards and other various finish pieces. The holes created from the fasteners stood out to the customer, but what was more apparent to me, was the uneven surfaces.