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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Carpentry Questions >> Removing old floorboards https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1296399628 Message started by rangler on Jan 30^th, 2011, 3:00pm

Title: Removing old floorboards
Post by rangler on Jan 30^th, 2011, 3:00pm

Hi all and nice forum :)
Posted this on another DIY forum but throught i'd post here too just in case

I have a spare room in our house which creaks like hell, i thought ok lets get the boards up and have a nosey then glue back down and use screws instead of nails.
Took me best part of 4 hours to get all the bloody nails out and 2 quite nasty cuts later theyre all out

However i cannot get the two T&G chipboards to come free, video here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h3eqG3Ilzs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h3eqG3Ilzs
Can anyone suggest anything please.? Im tempted to just rip them up and tidy the edges afterwards then replace the chip boards with compressed ones ??

Thoughts please.

Title: Re: Removing old floorboards
Post by Joiner on Jan 30^th, 2011, 5:49pm

You'd be better off with ply boards anyway. The creaking sounded as if it was caused by the edge board rubbing against the larger board, which could have been fixed by screwing between the joins of the boards. But as you've got the old boards up anyway, replace them with the ply and screw down.

Title: Re: Removing old floorboards
Post by woodsmith on Feb 1^st, 2011, 4:44pm

It may just be the chipboard moving up and down and creaking on the nails. There are special screws for fixing floorboards, they are threaded at the top and bottom but have a smooth area in between which allow you to fix the boards down tight. I would have a go with those first before doing anything drastic.

http://www.locksonline.com/acatalog/spax-floorboard-screw-countersunk-head-4-5-mm-6387.html
Before starting this though have a good look underneath the boards and see if there are any pipes/wires, mark the position in marker pen on the top side of the boards so you don't screw through any of them.

Title: Re: Removing old floorboards
Post by Wayne B on Feb 9^th, 2011, 6:25pm

Listen to the joiner bud, Im a plumber and Heating Engineer, good quality plywood well supported and screwed down well will deffo do the job, make sure to fully support all edges and if you need to add timbers between joists where sheets meet so there is no bow to rub together as they flex and make noises. :)