New Build - Chipboard Flooring

[sammyseven]

Hi - I'm sure this has been answered before but rather than trawl through 1000s of posts i'm thought i'd ask again.

My house is 8 years old and has terrible creaking floors upstairs.

I just want to know what is the best way to get the T&G flooring up - is it best to chisel down the T&G?

and what is the best way to deal with the sheets that run under walls?

I'll planning to put floor boards down - any advice welcome

Thanks in advance!

 

[Deluks]

Circ saw, jigsaw, floorboard saw (elbow powered)
Chipboard can be whacked with a heavy hammer but you never know what's underneath, could be a pipe or joists.

Much better to cut a section out and work from there, better still just soak it in water , it'll soon fall apart.

Not much you can do under stud walls, too fiddly, just cut as close as possible.

 

[big-all]

i would be a tad carefull cutting up to the stud wall if it runs parralel to the joists as the floor is likly to be supporting the stud to some extent or other!!!!!

check for noggins under the floor boards that specificly give direct support to the floor immediatly under the stud wall

 

[Symptoms]

Sammy - when I lifted the chipboard from my bathroom 25 years ago to replace it with solid reclaimed maple I used a felling axe. I identified the joist postions from the nail runs and chopped through the chipboard, aiming to hit at the joist edge - it worked brilliantly. I checked for pipe runs, etc. by cutting holes with a tank cutter, then torch & mirror to peer below; these holes also helped as starting positions for the chopper. I didn't have to chop hard as the chipboard broke easily under the axe blade and I had a suprising amount of control over the chopping action.

 

[JohnD]

I'd go for a bolster and club hammer, along the joist, under the chip, lifting it up and taking some of the nail heads with it. The chip will break so it fits in your rubble sack. Claw hammer by you to pull out remaining nails (or bash them)

you will have to saw neatly near the walls, if you saw along a joist you can nail a timber to it to rest the end of your new flooring on. If you are very lucky the chip joints will be in sensible places.