Lifting Chipboard flooring over pipe holes.

[richard lawes]

I need access to the pipes under a radiator where there is no trap door or any other easy access. The rad pipes just come up through two holes in the floor.

What's the best way to get the floor up (not worried about trashing it), without the risk of damaging pipes, cables etc underneath? Make a small hole somewhere and expand slowly out perhaps?

Thanks.

[Wingedcat]

Try to work out where the joists run (this should be possible by examining the nail/screws securing the chipboard flooring)

Then work out where you want your hole.

Drill a hole about 15mm in diameter to a depth of (approx) 20mm.

Get a jigsaw blade, snap it off so that at the jigsaw's maximum cut depth, the blade extends 18mm from the bed. Then put the jigsaw blade into your 15mm hole and cut a smallish access panel. Peer down and have a look with a pocket mirror. Once you know where pipes, cables etc are located, you can be a bit more adventurous with your jigsaw.