Circular saws

[Griffingreen]

I want to completely remove the tongue and groove sheet chipboard flooring fro m a room. Can a cicular saw be used to cut very close to the wall ( like 1 cm close), as that is where th joist is situated. If not how does one do this sort of job??

 

[breezer]

doubtfull since the saw has gudes etc, so it physically may not be able to get that close

 

[WoodYouLike]

There are circular saws (plunge-cut saws) that can, we use them amongst other works to 'free' expanded floors so need to reach very close to the wall. Festool has them in their wooden flooring tools range (and also I think DeWalt now), but they are pretty expensive.

 

[Thermo]

are you removing the entire floor, which is chipboard?

 

[TexMex]

If you are removing the flooring right up to the walls, first check what's holding those walls up. It's possible that the walls have been directly built on the floor that you are about to remove.

Although you will be leaving some flooring under the wall, it's possible (especially in the case of a wall that runs parallel with your joists) that you could end up with a wall, sitting on a piece fo flooring that is only supported on one side of the wall! This will make that small piece of flooring prone to bending, causing the whole wall to become unstable.

 

[Griffingreen]

are you removing the entire floor, which is chipboard?

I need to remove various sections of the floor to gain access for plumbing and electrical modifications, so it would involve less cutting to do the whole floor. I don't intend to remove any flooring under the walls (although only one is an internal), infact three of the sides can easily be done using a circulr eaw, it's just the fourth wall that i need to cut close to (above a joist). It's probably just as easy to use a hammer and chisel ??

 

[petewood]

Better a floorboard saw than hammer and chisel.

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=12981

 

[oilman]

Better a floorboard saw than hammer and chisel.

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=12981

Stuff that, why not go the whole hog and sharpen up a bit for a Kango (or use an axe)?

 

[Thermo]

a reciprocating saw with a decent wood blade on is the kiddie to use. it will rip along the toungues of the boards and quite easily go across them, youll just need to drill entry holes first. if its a one off either hire it or pick up a cheapie from somewhere like wickes etc. you just need to be aware of the pipes under the floor and the joists as you go perpendicular to them