Can anyone help?

I have recently moved house, the new place has a feature hallway with a solid oak "plank", or oversizes parquet floor.

This floor was fitted as part of a refurb last summer, and the fitter has since left the area.

It seems that the oak was not allowed to acclimatise and that no expansion gap has been left under the skirting boards.  As a result the floor has raised alarmingly along the length of the hall.

I have removed the skirting down one side, there are a couple of doors and a couple of radiators, but not much damage caused.  The flooring has been glued, hence my problem.

As I understand it, I need to remove the first couple of rows or boards and then give the floor a chance to settle before re-cutting and re-fitting with about 1/2 inch gap.

Firstly, has my advice been correct, should I remove these rows, or would I be better getting a pro in to use a router and cut the board down in situ (maybe twice)?

Secondly, if I need to remove the rows, is there any advice that can be given that they have been glued.  Obviously I want to cause the least damage (and effort), I have a limited number of spare boards, but am concerned if there is too much damage about matching the boards on re-fit.

Any advice gratefully received

Geoff

Twobarrows,

thanks for that, looks like a great new (to me) tool, do you think that saw bits would do the job aswell, or would I be risking the boards in your opinion?

Must admit the Fein looks cool, but tight as a ducks a**e I am!

Thanks big_all

Seems this one is not looking to be such a challenge as I feared.  Skirting came off really well, if I can pick the right gizmo, who knows, I may get to make this look good!

You mean there are people out there who HAVEN'T got a Fein Multimaster.  

Go and get one NOW.