Floor Chisels

About Floor Chisels

Floor chisels are heavy-duty hand tools specifically designed for lifting, removing, and stripping flooring materials including floorboards, skirting boards, architrave, and other fixed timber components. Featuring a wide, flat blade and extended handle, these robust chisels allow tradespeople to work efficiently when renovating, repairing, or replacing floor surfaces. The extended length provides excellent leverage, whilst the wide blade distributes force evenly to prevent damage to surrounding materials and reduce the risk of splitting timber.

Available in various configurations, floor chisels typically feature either a standard bolster-style design or incorporate an integrated hand guard and grip for enhanced safety and comfort during prolonged use. Professional-grade models from trusted brands like Faithfull, Footprint, and Roughneck are forged from hardened carbon steel to withstand repeated striking with a club hammer or mallet. The blade width usually ranges from 32mm to 75mm, making them suitable for everything from precision work around door frames to lifting entire floorboards in one pass.

Whether you're an electrician chasing cables beneath floors, a carpenter renovating period properties, or a DIY enthusiast tackling home improvements, a quality flooring chisel is an essential addition to your tool kit. These versatile tools also prove invaluable for removing old adhesive, lifting vinyl tiles, stripping damaged laminate, and general demolition work where controlled leverage is required.

Jargon Buster

Bolster Blade

The wide, flat chisel blade that provides the necessary surface area for lifting floorboards and distributing striking force across a broader area, reducing the risk of material damage.

Hand Guard/Guard Grip

A protective barrier positioned above the blade on certain models that shields your hand from impact if the hammer strike misses the chisel head, significantly improving safety during repetitive use.

Tang

The extended metal shaft that runs through or attaches to the handle. A full tang design offers superior strength and durability when subjected to heavy striking forces.

Drop Forged

A manufacturing process where heated steel is shaped under extreme pressure, creating a denser, stronger tool head with improved grain structure and resistance to deformation.

Striking Cap

The reinforced head of the chisel designed to absorb repeated hammer blows without mushrooming or splitting, typically featuring a slightly domed profile.

Bevel Edge

The angled cutting edge ground onto the blade, which should be maintained sharp for clean cuts and effective material penetration when lifting floorboards or stripping fixtures.

Who Uses Floor Chisels?

• Electricians and Sparkies – lifting floorboards to run cabling and install sockets throughout domestic and commercial properties
• Carpenters and Joiners – removing damaged timber flooring, architrave, and skirting boards during renovation projects
• Plumbers – accessing underfloor pipework and installing central heating systems beneath suspended timber floors
• Flooring Specialists – stripping old flooring materials before installing new laminate, engineered wood, or solid timber floors
• General Builders – demolition work, property refurbishment, and preparing surfaces during renovation projects
• Property Maintenance Teams – repairing and maintaining flooring in rental properties, social housing, and commercial buildings
• DIY Enthusiasts – home improvement projects including kitchen and bathroom renovations, loft conversions, and period property restoration
• Heritage Restoration Specialists – carefully removing original floorboards in listed buildings without causing unnecessary damage

How to Choose the Right Floor Chisels

Blade Width: Consider the typical applications you'll be tackling. Wider blades (65-75mm) work best for lifting full-width floorboards quickly, whilst narrower profiles (32-50mm) offer greater precision when working around doorframes, in tight corners, or removing individual boards without disturbing adjacent timber.

Handle Design: Standard flooring chisels feature a traditional wooden handle, but models with integrated hand guards provide essential protection for professional tradespeople undertaking repetitive striking work. The guard prevents hand injuries if your hammer strike misses the chisel head – a worthwhile safety feature on busy sites.

Material Quality: Professional-grade floor chisels should be manufactured from drop-forged carbon steel for maximum durability and impact resistance. Check that the striking cap is properly hardened to prevent mushrooming, which can occur with inferior tools after extended use.

Overall Length: Longer chisels (typically 300-450mm) provide superior leverage when lifting stubborn floorboards, reducing the physical effort required and improving efficiency on larger projects. Shorter models offer better control in confined spaces.

Brand Reputation: Established manufacturers like Faithfull, Footprint, and Roughneck have proven track records for producing reliable flooring chisels that withstand professional site conditions. Investing in quality tools from recognised brands typically proves more economical than repeatedly replacing budget alternatives.

Intended Use: Electricians often prefer chisels with hand guards for daily floorboard lifting, whilst carpenters might opt for traditional designs when precision is paramount. Consider your specific trade requirements and how frequently you'll use the tool.

Popular Accessories

• Club Hammers and Mallets – essential striking tools for driving floor chisels through tough materials without damaging the handle
• Wrecking Bars and Pry Bars – complementary leverage tools for lifting particularly stubborn floorboards once initial access has been created
• Sharpening Stones and Files – maintaining a sharp bevel edge ensures clean cuts and reduces the effort required when working
• Safety Goggles and Glasses – essential PPE to protect against flying debris and splinters when striking chisels
• Work Gloves – heavy-duty protective gloves from brands like Scruffs or Portwest reduce hand fatigue and protect against blisters
• Knee Pads – vital comfort accessory when spending extended periods working at floor level
• Tool Rolls and Storage – organised storage solutions from Stanley FatMax or DeWalt to protect your chisels during transport
• Bolster Chisels – smaller bolster chisels for detail work and accessing tight spaces around floor perimeters

Safety Information

Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment when using floor chisels, including safety goggles to protect against flying splinters and debris, and heavy-duty work gloves to prevent blisters and hand injuries. When striking the chisel, maintain a firm grip and ensure your free hand is always positioned behind the blade, never in front of the cutting edge.

Inspect your floor chisel before each use, checking for mushroomed striking caps, damaged handles, or loose components. A mushroomed cap should be ground down to prevent metal fragments breaking off during use. Always strike the chisel squarely on the striking cap – glancing blows can cause the hammer to deflect towards your hand.

When lifting floorboards, be aware of hidden services including electrical cables, gas pipes, and water supply lines that may be present beneath the floor surface. Use a cable and pipe detector before beginning work, and exercise caution when making initial penetrations. Work in well-ventilated areas, particularly when disturbing old flooring materials that may contain hazardous substances. Follow HSE guidelines for working with older properties where asbestos-containing materials might be present.

Maintain a stable working position with good balance, and avoid over-reaching which can lead to loss of control. When working on site, ensure your work area is clear of trip hazards and that other tradespeople are aware you're undertaking striking work to prevent accidents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a floor chisel and a bolster chisel?

Floor chisels feature a much longer handle (typically 300-450mm) compared to standard bolster chisels, providing superior leverage specifically for lifting floorboards. Whilst bolster chisels are designed for cutting bricks and masonry work, floor chisels have wider blades optimised for working with timber flooring materials without causing unnecessary damage to adjacent boards.

Do I need a floor chisel with a hand guard?

Hand guards are highly recommended for professional tradespeople who regularly lift floorboards, particularly electricians and plumbers. The guard protects your hand if the hammer strike misses the chisel head, preventing potentially serious injuries. For occasional DIY use, a standard floor chisel may suffice, though the additional safety feature is always beneficial.

Can I use a floor chisel for removing skirting boards?

Yes, floor chisels are excellent for removing skirting boards, architrave, and other fixed timber components. The wide blade allows you to work along the entire length of the skirting, whilst the leverage from the extended handle helps separate the board from the wall without excessive force that might cause cracking or splitting.

How do I maintain my floor chisel?

Keep the blade sharp using a bench grinder or sharpening stone, maintaining the original bevel angle for optimal performance. After use, clean off any debris and apply a light coating of oil to prevent rust. Check the handle regularly for cracks or looseness, and inspect the striking cap for mushrooming which should be ground flat if it occurs. Store your chisel in a dry location, ideally in a tool roll or dedicated storage system.

What hammer should I use with a floor chisel?

A club hammer weighing between 1-2kg (2-4lb) is ideal for most floor chisel work, providing sufficient striking force without being excessively heavy. Some tradespeople prefer rubber or wooden mallets when working with delicate period flooring to reduce the risk of damage. Always strike the hardened cap squarely rather than at an angle to prevent tool damage and maintain control.