Photo 7-Apply glue to mating surfaces.

Put glue on the mating tongues and grooves of the new and old pieces as in photo 7, and slip the new pieces into place as in photo 8. First place the tongue edge in with the piece at an angle, then push the other edge down flat. Place a piece of scrap wood on the new flooring and hit it with a hammer to seat it down as in photo 9. Check to see that it does seat down to the level of the old flooring, without popping up. Use weights to hold the pieces down as the glue dries.

Photo 8-Angle the pieces in place, slipping the tongue of the replacement into the groove of the existing boards.

Photo 9-Bang the piece down using scrap as shown to avoid denting the flooring.

If hammering and weights won't hold the pieces down, use finish nails as in photo 10. Pre-drill holes for the nails so they won't split the wood. Use a bit with a diameter slightly less than the nails themselves. Try to place the nails in the open grain areas of the oak, because there they will be less visible. Cover the holes with putty and let it dry.

Photo 10-Use nails to hold the pieces down only if they won't stay down with weights.

Make color tests with different stains on scrap pieces of oak flooring to find a color closest to the original. As you apply the stain to your floor (photo 11), keep the stain on the new wood only. Wipe the wet stain off with a cloth, let dry, then top coat with a flooring finish.

Photo 11-Carefully apply stain only on bare wood.

Resources For Doing Floor Repair