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One thing leads to another...
New bathroom needs new lighting and the extractor repositioning, which means I need to access it from above. The loft is boarded in the centre section, and the bathroom is below this.
My plan WAS to lift the boards (22mm t&g chipboard - 2.4m x 9m), sort the bathroom ceiling lights/extractor, then fit loftlegs, add 270mm insulation across the whole loft, then refit the boards. The issue is the current t&g is proving very difficult to lift. It is fastened with 70mm annular nails, 4 through each board into each joist, 20 per board, and there are 16 boards. 320 b'stard annular nails. I am really struggling to get them out.
I have been using a wee claw bar, and sometimes this is successful, but frequently the head of the nail is giving way before the nail is removed.
If I can get it even slightly proud, I have a wee crowbar that can get them out, but I am struggling.
I cannot decide whether to:
A - Cut out all the current boarding, making a lot of chipboard dust, then screw the loftlegs to the top of the 22mm Chipboard strip that remains nailed on top of the joists, then refit new boards on top of the legs. This will be messy, and requires new boards, circa £250.
Or;
B - Leave the current boards in place and then fit the legs and insulation, and reboard over the top. This will add 300kg of material over 21m2 of the loft, and also requires new boards.
Or, C - Something else? I am open to suggestions or tips as to how to relatively easily remove the annular nails. I could try an angled cut with multitool to cut through each nail just above the joist?
C
Ideas so far:
1.Small hole saw to cut the wood around each nail fixing.
2. Don’t try pulling the nail, try pulling the board with one of These big pallet breakers. some damage may result.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Ideally I'd have forstner drill but recessed in the centre to clear the nail head. If it took out 2-3mm of depth over 30mm radius, the big pry bar would work on the surface of the board and be able to grab the nail head first time.
I don't think I can try pulling the boards up as they are all t&ged together, and I cannot risk causing damage to the joists or the ceilings below. I think a 45deg plunge cut with the multitool might work
May be easier to just jig out the loft-board or cut some access holes.
to be honest, I'd go through the ceiling from below if the loft boarding is that well built. With a bit of easifill and sanding you will never know. Cut the plaster board at a slight inward incline so you can refix it a bit easier. and try to cut it out in one bigger bit than lots of little ones.
I had a similar problem removing nails from flooring. I found two flat screwdrivers 180º apart works best, push them under the head of the nail from both sides and push down on the handles. That raises the head sufficiently to get a claw hammer under it. With one screwdriver, the nail bends away from it and the head springs off, with two, pushed together, that can't happen. Wear gloves in case they slip.
You could cut round them with a small hole saw, either start the drill alongside the nail so it's slightly off centre, or remove the bit and use a hole in a scrap bit of wood as a jig to keep the hole saw from wandering.
You might even just be able to cut in a few mm and then break off the top layer with a screwdriver so you can pull the nail out.
Yeah I think I would go with a hole saw too, although it's not much fun in my experience. Smallish hole saw, just wide enough for a claw hammer/pry bar/crow bar head to slip in and hook the nail head. Drill the hole a few mill below the nail then use an old chisel to split the core across the nail.
I would be tempted with the oscilating tool option too. But could get a bit messy that way. At least with the holesaw it would look kinda ok when you relay the boards
Loft work isn't meant to be fun. End result usually worth the misery though
ps I noticed a hole saw kit in lidl this week, 4.99
I have made a bit of progress with the clawbar. If I get stuck I am milling out a bit of material around the head with the multitool, allowing the bigger prybar in. Cosmetically it is not great, but it is a loft floor! 2 boards down (up), 14 to go...