I'm currently taking up the tiled floor in the kitchen and it's turning into quite a struggle. I need to get back to the T&G plank below the tiles and sub-layer of ply-board.

I've removed all the ceramic tiles with a chisel and I'm left with a layer of screwed down ply, mostly covered in cement - fitted by myself many years ago. The ply underneath seems to be in 3 main sections and there's a lot of screws holding it in place.

After a days toil today, I have managed to almost complete the removal of one of the ply panels, which meant locating screws, cleaning the screw head and unscrewing. Every time, I think I've done and try to lever up the ply panel, there's something stopping it coming up, and I keep locating further hidden screws that need to be removed

Seems that as long as there's one more hidden screw remaining, the ply won't budge, so I've now decided to get a saw and cut the plywood into smaller squares while still screwed down. I'll then remove a small square of ply at a time.

Can anyone recommend a saw tool, that will allow me to cut to a 12mm depth into the ply without cutting into the T&G floorboards below? Hopefully, I can then remove the ply-board a small piece at a time.

I have a multi-saw that cuts well with the oscillating saw disk, but it has no depth setting, so is really no good for this job.

Thanks

cf

On 09/09/18 19:49, cf-leeds wrote:
I'm currently taking up the tiled floor in the kitchen and it's turning into quite a struggle. I need to get back to the T&G plank below the tiles and sub-layer of ply-board.

I've removed all the ceramic tiles with a chisel and I'm left with a layer of screwed down ply, mostly covered in cement - fitted by myself many years ago. The ply underneath seems to be in 3 main sections and there's a lot of screws holding it in place.

After a days toil today, I have managed to almost complete the removal of one of the ply panels, which meant locating screws, cleaning the screw head and unscrewing. Every time, I think I've done and try to lever up the ply panel, there's something stopping it coming up, and I keep locating further hidden screws that need to be removed

Seems that as long as there's one more hidden screw remaining, the ply won't budge, so I've now decided to get a saw and cut the plywood into smaller squares while still screwed down. I'll then remove a small square of ply at a time.

Can anyone recommend a saw tool, that will allow me to cut to a 12mm depth into the ply without cutting into the T&G floorboards below? Hopefully, I can then remove the ply-board a small piece at a time.


Any hand circular saw will have depth adjustment

I have a multi-saw that cuts well with the oscillating saw disk, but it has no depth setting, so is really no good for this job.

Thanks

cf



--
€œSome people like to travel by train because it combines the slowness of
a car with the cramped public exposure of €¨an airplane.€�

Dennis Miller

On Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 7:51:12 PM UTC+1, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 09/09/18 19:49, cf-leeds wrote:
I'm currently taking up the tiled floor in the kitchen and it's turning into quite a struggle. I need to get back to the T&G plank below the tiles and sub-layer of ply-board.

I've removed all the ceramic tiles with a chisel and I'm left with a layer of screwed down ply, mostly covered in cement - fitted by myself many years ago. The ply underneath seems to be in 3 main sections and there's a lot of screws holding it in place.

After a days toil today, I have managed to almost complete the removal of one of the ply panels, which meant locating screws, cleaning the screw head and unscrewing. Every time, I think I've done and try to lever up the ply panel, there's something stopping it coming up, and I keep locating further hidden screws that need to be removed

Seems that as long as there's one more hidden screw remaining, the ply won't budge, so I've now decided to get a saw and cut the plywood into smaller squares while still screwed down. I'll then remove a small square of ply at a time.

Can anyone recommend a saw tool, that will allow me to cut to a 12mm depth into the ply without cutting into the T&G floorboards below? Hopefully, I can then remove the ply-board a small piece at a time.


Any hand circular saw will have depth adjustment

I have a multi-saw that cuts well with the oscillating saw disk, but it has no depth setting, so is really no good for this job.

Thanks

cf



--
€œSome people like to travel by train because it combines the slowness of
a car with the cramped public exposure of €¨an airplane.€�

Dennis Miller



Thanks - That's exactly what I need. I just didn't know the name of it.

cf

On 09/09/2018 19:49, cf-leeds wrote:
I'm currently taking up the tiled floor in the kitchen and it's turning into quite a struggle. I need to get back to the T&G plank below the tiles and sub-layer of ply-board.

I've removed all the ceramic tiles with a chisel and I'm left with a layer of screwed down ply, mostly covered in cement - fitted by myself many years ago. The ply underneath seems to be in 3 main sections and there's a lot of screws holding it in place.

After a days toil today, I have managed to almost complete the removal of one of the ply panels, which meant locating screws, cleaning the screw head and unscrewing. Every time, I think I've done and try to lever up the ply panel, there's something stopping it coming up, and I keep locating further hidden screws that need to be removed

Seems that as long as there's one more hidden screw remaining, the ply won't budge, so I've now decided to get a saw and cut the plywood into smaller squares while still screwed down. I'll then remove a small square of ply at a time.

If you use a strong Magnet (or metal detector) to find the screws, and
then a small hole saw to cut round the heads, you should the be able to
free the ply, and leave screws that you can grab with mole grips to save
needing to clean each and every head.

Depending on what is going back on the floor, you might also be able to
use a slater's "rip" once you have an exposed edge - slide it under the
ply, and snag then cut the screws.



Can anyone recommend a saw tool, that will allow me to cut to a 12mm depth into the ply without cutting into the T&G floorboards below? Hopefully, I can then remove the ply-board a small piece at a time.

Circular saw would seem the obvious option. Although get a cheap
sacrificial blade for it, since it won't thank you for the tile cement!

I have a multi-saw that cuts well with the oscillating saw disk, but it has no depth setting, so is really no good for this job.

You could probably fashion some kind of depth limit = have a look at the
depth stop as used on some multimasters.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On Monday, 10 September 2018 10:41:18 UTC+1, John Rumm wrote:
On 09/09/2018 19:49, cf-leeds wrote:
I'm currently taking up the tiled floor in the kitchen and it's turning into quite a struggle. I need to get back to the T&G plank below the tiles and sub-layer of ply-board.

I've removed all the ceramic tiles with a chisel and I'm left with a layer of screwed down ply, mostly covered in cement - fitted by myself many years ago. The ply underneath seems to be in 3 main sections and there's a lot of screws holding it in place.

After a days toil today, I have managed to almost complete the removal of one of the ply panels, which meant locating screws, cleaning the screw head and unscrewing. Every time, I think I've done and try to lever up the ply panel, there's something stopping it coming up, and I keep locating further hidden screws that need to be removed

Seems that as long as there's one more hidden screw remaining, the ply won't budge, so I've now decided to get a saw and cut the plywood into smaller squares while still screwed down. I'll then remove a small square of ply at a time.

If you use a strong Magnet (or metal detector) to find the screws, and
then a small hole saw to cut round the heads, you should the be able to
free the ply, and leave screws that you can grab with mole grips to save
needing to clean each and every head.

Depending on what is going back on the floor, you might also be able to
use a slater's "rip" once you have an exposed edge - slide it under the
ply, and snag then cut the screws.



Can anyone recommend a saw tool, that will allow me to cut to a 12mm depth into the ply without cutting into the T&G floorboards below? Hopefully, I can then remove the ply-board a small piece at a time.

Circular saw would seem the obvious option. Although get a cheap
sacrificial blade for it, since it won't thank you for the tile cement!

I have a multi-saw that cuts well with the oscillating saw disk, but it has no depth setting, so is really no good for this job.

You could probably fashion some kind of depth limit = have a look at the
depth stop as used on some multimasters.

it would be slow going & the blades are only steel so don't last very well. A circular is many times faster.


NT

On Monday, September 10, 2018 at 10:41:18 AM UTC+1, John Rumm wrote:
On 09/09/2018 19:49, cf-leeds wrote:
I'm currently taking up the tiled floor in the kitchen and it's turning into quite a struggle. I need to get back to the T&G plank below the tiles and sub-layer of ply-board.

I've removed all the ceramic tiles with a chisel and I'm left with a layer of screwed down ply, mostly covered in cement - fitted by myself many years ago. The ply underneath seems to be in 3 main sections and there's a lot of screws holding it in place.

After a days toil today, I have managed to almost complete the removal of one of the ply panels, which meant locating screws, cleaning the screw head and unscrewing. Every time, I think I've done and try to lever up the ply panel, there's something stopping it coming up, and I keep locating further hidden screws that need to be removed

Seems that as long as there's one more hidden screw remaining, the ply won't budge, so I've now decided to get a saw and cut the plywood into smaller squares while still screwed down. I'll then remove a small square of ply at a time.

If you use a strong Magnet (or metal detector) to find the screws, and
then a small hole saw to cut round the heads, you should the be able to
free the ply, and leave screws that you can grab with mole grips to save
needing to clean each and every head.

Depending on what is going back on the floor, you might also be able to
use a slater's "rip" once you have an exposed edge - slide it under the
ply, and snag then cut the screws.



Can anyone recommend a saw tool, that will allow me to cut to a 12mm depth into the ply without cutting into the T&G floorboards below? Hopefully, I can then remove the ply-board a small piece at a time.

Circular saw would seem the obvious option. Although get a cheap
sacrificial blade for it, since it won't thank you for the tile cement!

I have a multi-saw that cuts well with the oscillating saw disk, but it has no depth setting, so is really no good for this job.

You could probably fashion some kind of depth limit = have a look at the
depth stop as used on some multimasters.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/


Thanks for the magnet tip.

I have salvaged a magnet from an old door catch and given it a try. It seems a reliable way to locate the screws.

cf

On Mon, 10 Sep 2018 10:41:15 +0100, John Rumm wrote:

If you use a strong Magnet (or metal detector) to find the screws, and
then a small hole saw to cut round the heads, you should the be able to
free the ply, and leave screws that you can grab with mole grips to save
needing to clean each and every head.

That would be my prefered option. With a bit of luck the bit of ply
left around the screws will grip them enough to be used to unscrew
them.

Or once the screw is located use a screw extractor rather than a
proper driver bit. That ought to be able to cut the clogging tile
adhesive and get a good grip in the screw head. Probably better with
cross head screws than slotted.

Depending on what is going back on the floor, you might also be able to
use a slater's "rip" once you have an exposed edge - slide it under the
ply, and snag then cut the screws.

I don't think that'll be very quick. A slaters rip is that, it rips
the nails out of the lath and through the slate rather than cutting
the nail. It'll sometimes cut a really stuburn nail but not without a
lot of whacking with a hammer.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On 10/09/2018 16:34, cf-leeds wrote:

Thanks for the magnet tip.

I have salvaged a magnet from an old door catch and given it a try. It seems a reliable way to locate the screws.

old hard drives are also a good source of powerful magnets if you don't
mind them being odd shapes.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 7:49:40 PM UTC+1, cf-leeds wrote:
I'm currently taking up the tiled floor in the kitchen and it's turning into quite a struggle. I need to get back to the T&G plank below the tiles and sub-layer of ply-board.

I've removed all the ceramic tiles with a chisel and I'm left with a layer of screwed down ply, mostly covered in cement - fitted by myself many years ago. The ply underneath seems to be in 3 main sections and there's a lot of screws holding it in place.

After a days toil today, I have managed to almost complete the removal of one of the ply panels, which meant locating screws, cleaning the screw head and unscrewing. Every time, I think I've done and try to lever up the ply panel, there's something stopping it coming up, and I keep locating further hidden screws that need to be removed

Seems that as long as there's one more hidden screw remaining, the ply won't budge, so I've now decided to get a saw and cut the plywood into smaller squares while still screwed down. I'll then remove a small square of ply at a time.

Can anyone recommend a saw tool, that will allow me to cut to a 12mm depth into the ply without cutting into the T&G floorboards below? Hopefully, I can then remove the ply-board a small piece at a time.

I have a multi-saw that cuts well with the oscillating saw disk, but it has no depth setting, so is really no good for this job.

Thanks

cf



Just thought I'd add an update, now I've finished the job and got up all the cement covered ply wood.

The most efficient method I found was:

1. Locate screw with a magnet
2. Scrape away the cement with hammer and sacrificial wood chisel to reveal a clean screw head.
3. Clean screw head out with the point of a flat wood hole cutter - perfect tool for that job. Doesn't take long at all.
4. Unscrew the screw with battery drill
5. Repeat until all are removed

This is certainly a job for the tenacious, but actually doesn't take long, once you get into a rhythm.

Several people who I asked just said to use a wrecking bar to prize up the screwed down ply-wood - ever tried to do that ? A job for the bionic man and with a matrix of screws spaced at 15cm, forget it.

Mole grips come in handy when there was the odd screw that wouldn't cooperate, but I think that using mole grips on the whole floor would have definitely taken longer.

Thanks x 1000 once again to the person who suggested using a magnet to locate the screw. So obvious when you think about it, but not obvious enough for me

On Saturday, 15 September 2018 17:47:28 UTC+1, cf-leeds wrote:
On Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 7:49:40 PM UTC+1, cf-leeds wrote:
I'm currently taking up the tiled floor in the kitchen and it's turning into quite a struggle. I need to get back to the T&G plank below the tiles and sub-layer of ply-board.

I've removed all the ceramic tiles with a chisel and I'm left with a layer of screwed down ply, mostly covered in cement - fitted by myself many years ago. The ply underneath seems to be in 3 main sections and there's a lot of screws holding it in place.

After a days toil today, I have managed to almost complete the removal of one of the ply panels, which meant locating screws, cleaning the screw head and unscrewing. Every time, I think I've done and try to lever up the ply panel, there's something stopping it coming up, and I keep locating further hidden screws that need to be removed

Seems that as long as there's one more hidden screw remaining, the ply won't budge, so I've now decided to get a saw and cut the plywood into smaller squares while still screwed down. I'll then remove a small square of ply at a time.

Can anyone recommend a saw tool, that will allow me to cut to a 12mm depth into the ply without cutting into the T&G floorboards below? Hopefully, I can then remove the ply-board a small piece at a time.

I have a multi-saw that cuts well with the oscillating saw disk, but it has no depth setting, so is really no good for this job.

Thanks

cf



Just thought I'd add an update, now I've finished the job and got up all the cement covered ply wood.

The most efficient method I found was:

1. Locate screw with a magnet
2. Scrape away the cement with hammer and sacrificial wood chisel to reveal a clean screw head.
3. Clean screw head out with the point of a flat wood hole cutter - perfect tool for that job. Doesn't take long at all.
4. Unscrew the screw with battery drill
5. Repeat until all are removed

This is certainly a job for the tenacious, but actually doesn't take long, once you get into a rhythm.

Several people who I asked just said to use a wrecking bar to prize up the screwed down ply-wood - ever tried to do that ? A job for the bionic man and with a matrix of screws spaced at 15cm, forget it.

Mole grips come in handy when there was the odd screw that wouldn't cooperate, but I think that using mole grips on the whole floor would have definitely taken longer.

Thanks x 1000 once again to the person who suggested using a magnet to locate the screw. So obvious when you think about it, but not obvious enough for me

good to know. Some sheet materials are practical to pry up, some are much tougher.


NT