Is the issue taking it up at the corners where it's under the floor? Just use a multi tool to cut it out adjacent to the wall.
More about how to go about the job itself - before starting the thread, I assumed I would need to cut up to the walls and leave the current boards underneath them, then find some way of making sure they were secure and replacing all the other boards.
Is ply the way to go? Do you get T&G ply or just use boards?
Also, the boards may not finish under the stud walling! They may go right into the other rooms! Have you checked on the other side to see where the join might be? Be lucky if it is under the stud otherwise best to cut the nails under the stud with a thin blade and you can then cut the boards either side of the stud and hopefully slide out. Not an easy job.
Most (if not all) go underneath the walls.
Are the walls going to, well, stay up if I slide the boards out from underneath them, assuming that can even be done?
If you know where the joists are for the ones close to the wall, then replicate what they have done in above pic, and leave the small part of board that is going under the stud wall.
It does look on the above though that they may have missed the joist? So you may need to extend that joist out, with something like 2x2 or similar in order to give you a lip to work with, or cut the board that goes back under the wall a little more.
In the room that particular photo was taken in, the joists run left to right out from the wall.
In the hallway I was standing in, they go the opposite way. I'll get a floorplan up and some more pictures with joist direction/placement when I get a chance.
The problem with T&G floorboards (ie the old type) is they are more of a pain if you need to pull them. This can partly be got around by planning. So where would you need to lift? In those areas skip a bit of T&G, use some planned off planks, or remove the T&G and get some oversize and trim down. to fit your gap. This way you can T&G most of the room where you are highly unlikely to need to pull up, and keep potential access easy to do where you will probably need the access.
That's a sensible way of looking at it. Are you talking floorboards as in the dimensions of something like laminate, or big sheets like I have?
A lot of the current floor has been sliced and diced over the years, so the boards are smaller than they once were. A lot of the T&G has died in the process and, quite frankly, I want to do it once and do it right.
I can afford ply (someone else had a thread where they replaced all theirs with marine ply and did it all themselves... can't find the thread, but was in awe) but I just need to know what the right thing to do is. Leaving access for pipes and suchlike is doable and I like your idea of the coloured pens!
