I've removed a plasterboard false ceiling in my hall which was covering up some ancient decommissioned hot air heating vents. It was attached to some wooden battens nailed to the walls, and now I'm trying to work out how to remove the battens.
With the fourth batten I cut through it with my jigsaw at each end and in the middle to remove it in two pieces, but that was only possible because it was in the middle of the hall with nothing on other side to obstruct the jigsaw, and it made a bit of a mess of two blades, so it probably wasn't the best tool for this. I can't use the jigsaw for these three battens in any event because the walls are in the way.
The attached photos show all three battens, and then individual shots of the side and underside of each of them.
They're all about 3.5cm thick, and the two longer ones have about 8-9 nails attaching them to the wall, whilst the one above the living room door has 4-5. Even if I could get enough leverage and I had enough strength to prise them off in one piece, that would probably make a big mess of the wall, so I think I need to cut them into sections either side of the nails and then remove them section by section.
My multitool would get through them eventually but it's much slower than using the jigsaw (I already tried it when I was removing the fourth batten) and it heats up the wood and makes it smoke a bit, which then sets off the smoke alarm, which slows the process down even more as I have to keep clearing that and waiting for a bit to go again. So I'm hoping there's a quicker and easier way to cut and remove them.
With the fourth batten I cut through it with my jigsaw at each end and in the middle to remove it in two pieces, but that was only possible because it was in the middle of the hall with nothing on other side to obstruct the jigsaw, and it made a bit of a mess of two blades, so it probably wasn't the best tool for this. I can't use the jigsaw for these three battens in any event because the walls are in the way.
The attached photos show all three battens, and then individual shots of the side and underside of each of them.
They're all about 3.5cm thick, and the two longer ones have about 8-9 nails attaching them to the wall, whilst the one above the living room door has 4-5. Even if I could get enough leverage and I had enough strength to prise them off in one piece, that would probably make a big mess of the wall, so I think I need to cut them into sections either side of the nails and then remove them section by section.
My multitool would get through them eventually but it's much slower than using the jigsaw (I already tried it when I was removing the fourth batten) and it heats up the wood and makes it smoke a bit, which then sets off the smoke alarm, which slows the process down even more as I have to keep clearing that and waiting for a bit to go again. So I'm hoping there's a quicker and easier way to cut and remove them.
Attachments
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All three battens.jpg169.9 KB · Views: 67
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Batten above bedroom door (side).jpg164.6 KB · Views: 76
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Batten above bedroom door (under).jpg196.3 KB · Views: 67
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Batten above living room door (side).jpg160.8 KB · Views: 69
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Batten above living room door (under).jpg155.8 KB · Views: 68
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Batten along hall wall (side).jpg314.5 KB · Views: 64
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Batten along hall wall (under).jpg273.8 KB · Views: 71