How to Remove Wood Shims Under a Subfloor

Wooden shims are simple tools used to make furniture level in relation to an uneven floor. Removing wooden shims that have been installed underneath the subfloor requires pulling up a small portion of the surface floor so you can access the shims. Subfloors are usually made of a wood similar to plywood that is held up by thick beams, or joists. Although it may take some time to tear up a few small areas and repair your flooring, at least you won’t be forced to refinish the entire room’s floors just to retrieve a handful of wooden shims.

Electric saw
Electric drill
Scissors
Chalk
Replacement carpeting or tile

Instructions

- 1
  Move the piece of furniture sitting on the wooden shims to another location so you can access the floor.
- 2
  Drill a small hole in the center of the floor where each shim is located so you understand how deeply you will have to cut.
- 3
  Draw a circle around each wooden shim to mark where you will need to cut up the upper floor and subfloor to access the shims. Make the circle as small as possible so you only remove the minimum amount of flooring to complete the job.
- 4
  Cut out the circle of floor covering by cutting carpeting with scissors or an electric saw to remove tile. Continue to saw through the subfloor to get to the wooden shim underneath, but take care not to accidentally cut through the joists that hold the floor together.
- 5
  Remove the wooden shims by hand. Patch the holes you have created by replacing the small areas of subfloor and carpeting or tile that you removed to retrieve the shims.

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