Lifting old floor boards without damaging them

[Gad-Westy]

Is it possible? Have some AV wiring to put in and the simplest route would be under the floorboards. Would have to lift boards in maybe 3-4 places to route wiring but I don't want to do it if I'll damage the boards as we don't have carpets, just original bare boards. Boards are tongue and groove type I think and are nailed down.

[Solitude]

Tongue and grooved.....and nailed !!!!

Good luck mate !!!!

[Russ182]

Best bet would be to stanley knife down the tongue either side. Obviously you will loose the tongue but its neater than getting a hammer and chisel all the way down the boards and battering them to smithereens.

The problem is then lifting them without putting dents in the boards, i guess you could try levering from the ends of the boards rather than the sides but theres still going to be some scaring unfortunately.

Only other option is to cut into the ceiling in the rooms below...all depends how much you want to save them floorboards. Unfortunately im guessing if theyve never been up before and theyre old old....your prob due a rewire so theyre going to have to come up at some point

[Simpo Two]

To cut the tongue:

a) Old way:



b) New way:




Then:



However I think a little damage will be inevitable getting the lifting started due to the nails. Maybe grind the heads off with a Dremel etc?

[Laurel Green]

The only other option is if it is the ground floor with a decent over-site (crawl space) and, if there is another room or cupboard/under stairs where the boards can be lifted to access said crawl space.

[taz turbo]

Don't take them up and use one of these...

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/60543/Drill-Bits/Hol...

Followed by on of these...

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/72836/Drill-Bits/Hol...

Chris.

[ribenavrs]

Simpo Two said:

However I think a little damage will be inevitable getting the lifting started due to the nails. Maybe grind the heads off with a Dremel etc?

or punch the nails thru' ??

[Gad-Westy]

Cheers gents. This is not sounding like a simple task!

Have had a rethink and I think I'm going to go across the top rather than under the floor. Seems less hassle.

[Laurel Green]

Good man! More beer time.