Lifting T&G chipboard - nailed on joists

[Jimbo]

Hi,

I want to lift the floor (chipboard T&G, 8' x 2' x18mm, 16" centres on the joists) in the bedroom to tidy up some wiring (currently running above the skirting in trunking ). I've run a circular saw along the join to cut out the tongues either side, and managed to get one end up away from the joist. However, the board is nailed to each joist and I can't get any leverage to lift the board away from the second joist. I can't go in from the side without making a mess of the boards either side - the point loads will just wreck the chipboard.

What do I do? At the moment I'm faced with the prospect of just having to wreck the boards then replace them, I'd rather not go this route.

 

[big-all]

variouse ways to do it
assuming small heads knock through

you can also use a plug cutter 76250 free postage over £10
http://www.toolstation.com/documents/search/index.html


use the cutter round the nail carfully with a battery drill move the new screws 2" further along with due care to pipes and wires

 

[Jimbo]

Both excellent ideas! And I have a Toolstation just down the road from where I work! Think I'll go for the plug-cutter soln to make sure the nails don't exit sideways from the joist... just in case....

Thanks for the advice!