How to Remove Tongue & Groove Lumber
Tongue and groove is a technique used to secure lumber, on floors, outside walls and paneling. It employs a tongue or protrusion on one edge of a board that fits into a groove or slot on an adjoining board. Each board has a tongue side and a groove side.
Boards are nailed or fastened through the tongue, to conceal the nails. It gives an even, smooth finish without any nail heads showing. But removing it can be a bit of a challenge, since there are no visible nails to pull.
Things You Will Need
- Pry bar (with nail puller)
- Hammer
- Chisel or similar tool
- Circular saw (optional)
- Locking pliers
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Locate a starting place. The first step in removing tongue and groove material, whether it is on a floor or a wall, is to find a starting place. Basically, this involves destroying one board. If the porch or other floor or the siding is rotted, that may give you a starting point. But you have to remove one whole board first to gain access to other boards. On a floor, start at a wall or porch end. On a wall, start at the bottom for horizontal siding. Sometimes you can use a circular saw---make two cuts the length of the board, parallel to the edges and in the center of the board. Remove that cut-out strip to get access to both tongue and groove edges of that board. You also can use a hammer and chisel to cut out that first board.
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Remove the cut strip, if you used a saw. If you used a chisel, pull out all broken wood. Gain access to both edges of that first piece. Pull out the groove side, which should come away easily. Then, pull away the tongue side any way you can---sometimes you can grab the wood with locking pliers and just pull the tongue away, or you may want to use your pry bar to pry it away. Then, pull out any remaining nails.
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Move to the next board. Use your pry bar to lift it up, then pull the groove away from the adjoining board. It should come away easily, since it is not nailed to that board. Then, use your pry bar and nail puller to loosen the nails in the next tongue edge. Pull the nails, then remove the board. Continue this way until you have removed all damaged boards or all that you want to replace.
Tip
Removal will get easier after the first few boards, because you will learn where the nails are and how to extract them.
Warning
Wear goggles to prevent wood slivers from getting into your eyes.
The Drip Cap
- Tongue and groove is a technique used to secure lumber, on floors, outside walls and paneling.
- Each board has a tongue side and a groove side.
- The first step in removing tongue and groove material, whether it is on a floor or a wall, is to find a starting place.
- But you have to remove one whole board first to gain access to other boards.
- Remove that cut-out strip to get access to both tongue and groove edges of that board.
- Use your pry bar to lift it up, then pull the groove away from the adjoining board.
References
Writer Bio
Bob Haring has been a news writer and editor for more than 50 years, mostly with the Associated Press and then as executive editor of the Tulsa, Okla. "World." Since retiring he has written freelance stories and a weekly computer security column. Haring holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri.
Photo Credits
- wood background image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
- wood background image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
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