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Cutting across floorboards |
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| message from Chris Emerson on 17 May 2004 |
I need to cut across some T&G floorboards so that I can lift them for
access. Cutting along the tongue is easy with a circular, jig, or even
tenon saw, but I'm having more problems with the cross cut.
Our floorboards are screwed into steel joists; this means the cut has to
be diagonal over the joist, between two screws, so that each remaining
half is still secured to the joist (crude diagram below). This means
that eg jig saw won't work, since the joist is in the way. Circular saw
won't work without seriously gouging the adjacent boards.
Is there a good way to do this?
| joist |
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| David replied to Chris Emerson on 17 May 2004 |
hi Chris
I only have experience with wooden joists, but I assume a similar appraoch
will work
What I have done is, after cutting the tongues as required, partially raise
the floorboard using a combination of bolster chisel, long screw drivers,
etc, to lever the board up either side of thejoist
Keep the floorboard raised just above the level of the adjacent screwed down
boards by inserting whetever is to hand to wedge up the board, as above I
normally use a bolster and some old chisels, I've occasionally using some
long screwdrivers but this can dammage the board and the groove.
It is obviously useful to unscrew the floorboard at adjacent joists where
possible.
the floorbord now sits, with a bow in the middle above the joist you are
working over, above the surface of the adjacent floorboards and can be
attacked with a tenon saw, or possibley a circular saw.
cheers
David
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| Dave Liquorice replied to David on 17 May 2004 |
And as the board is screwed down just undo the screws and lift it out
after cutting the tongues. Bit tricky if there is no free end but on
the width/length of a room there will be enough flex to get a board
well clear of adjacent ones to cut as required.
Failing that the broken jigsaw blade works well, starting can be fun
go slowly and hold the saw firmly.
Even though they are steel joists you could still fit a noggin. Just a
bit more fiddly drilling holes for coach bolts or similar and possibly
having to (roughly) shape the noggin around the flange on the beam.
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| John replied to Chris Emerson on 17 May 2004 |
It takes some care and a bit of practice but if you get a jig saw and break
the blade off at just the right depth to cut through the board and no more
when the blade is at full extension then it is possible to SLOWLY cut across
a board without damaging the supporting beam. Practice a bit and hold the
saw handle very securely as you do it.
HTH
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| Dave Plowman replied to Chris Emerson on 17 May 2004 |
Yes it will. Extend the jigsaw blade as far down as it will go, and mark
on it the thickness of the floorboard. Remove the blade and snap off at
the mark. By starting with the blade horizontal and gently lowering it
onto the board, you can start cutting in the middle and go to the edge.
Then cut to the other side. If done with care, no damage to surrounding
boards or to joists. Obviously, follow the line you've drawn to avoid the
screws.
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Archived message: Cutting across floorboards (UK DIY Home Repairs)
