Q: One visitor asked, "Our pine floors are over 100 years old, and we have no subfloor. Our plan was to tear up the pine floors and put plywood down then put the original pine floors back down. Were then going to insulate with icynene (specially for damp places, that sticks to everything). How do I tear up these floors without damaging them further? Also, is there any special precautions i should take or things I should use? Were tearing these ourselves and I'm very nervous!"

A: I think you are going to lose a row or so of your really old pine planks. You will have to find out where the leading tongue is and start removing the planks from that side of the room. Once you are able, you can use a hammer and punch and drive the nails through the tongue and into the joists, thus freeing the planks. But I think you will lose the first row of boards.