There wasn’t a folder on deconstruction techniques, so I thought I post this here…
Part of my rehab of our old Italianate means that I will need to tear down a poorly constructed “add-on,” however, the siding is nice old growth redwood that I’d like to save…The siding is 1X6 tongue and groove, nailed to the studs. The nails are not clearly visible, trying to pull them all out is difficult…and without being able to slide the siding down, the tongue and groove get damaged…I’m not worried about the studs (since it is coming down to the floor).
Hence my question…Any suggestions on how to remove the boards without screwing them up too badly?
Thanks.
Replies
Rip on off, slide a long sawzall blade behind the next and cut the nails.
Good luck.
Or take it apart from the inside?
Eric
I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
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funny just last week was doing some novelty drop siding, with a 50 layers of paint. the sawzall method for me worked , the first was a throw away and once that set in we just cut it with circular trim saw . i had more difficulty under neath three quarter wrap around, because the paint didnt breakdown as much as the siding exposed to the elements. anyhow.... novelty is a little diffrent because there is a nail that go through the tongue on the shiplap. was able to drill that nail out with 1/8" drill bit , slide 2 old 6" spackle knives coupled two together tap them up there . then separate them slide/ or tap gingerly with your hammer a wonder -bar (flat bar) in between them. then go in with a long sawzall blade 12" , work the spackle knives ,then the sawzall. etc,saved around 80% of the siding. this isnt a earth breaking/ nor a mensa approach , just good ole fashion saw my grandfather do it. if it aint broken dont fix-it........ have fun......slainte...
."expectations are premeditated resentments"
Edited 4/15/2005 8:10 pm ET by the bear
I was demoing an old addition once where the HO wanted to save the old siding, so we were carefully prying it off and so on. The interior was already gone. A neighbor came over and he just took a sledge hammer and pounded on the boards from the inside, knocking them off the studs. He was pretty rough and only damaged a few; I think if you were more careful about pounding right at each stud you could at least loosen the boards to get a pry bar under them. I've found that pounding by more or less pushing the hammer outward and hitting with the top of the head rather than either of the faces gives you more control and the force is less likely to smash things. (Sort of the difference between using a baseball bat and a pool cue.)
To be really careful about it, hold a scrap block against the inside of the boards, and hit the block with a hammer.
-- J.S.