I have some 3/4" OSB decking in my attic that I need to lift up for some wiring work. The problem is that it's secured with countersunk framing nails, so I can't pry them up at all. I've tried chiseling around the nails and using a crowbar to lift the board, but it's just splintering. Is it possible to drill through the nails like you would with a stripped screw? If so, what type of bit should I use? Or do you have any other suggestions?
4 Answers
Drilling through those framing nails could turn into a major time sink and break your tools in the process. Honestly, OSB isn’t the sturdiest material, and once it’s nailed down, pulling it up intact is pretty unlikely. Your best options are to either cut the nails or just cut the sheet and buy a new one. Spending thirty bucks on a new piece is way better than spending hours struggling with this.
Honestly, considering how much time you might waste on this, I'd just replace the OSB. A new sheet costs around $20, which isn’t too bad. Plus, with the challenge of getting a full sheet into the attic, you might save yourself a lot of hassle in the long run.
If you can manage to get the nail heads off, that might allow you to pull the board up. Otherwise, drilling them out like you mentioned could work too, but both options have their challenges. Just keep in mind there might be glue involved which could make it tougher. Just give it a shot, but if the OSB gets wrecked in the process, you’re just going to have to replace it anyway!
If you're determined to save the OSB, you could try using a hole saw on a drill. Start with a scrap piece of 1x4 and drill a hole with the pilot bit first. Then remove the pilot bit and use the scrap piece as a centering template over each nail. Secure it with a drywall screw if necessary. It's gonna be tedious, but it should work in the end.
A plug cutter might actually work better for this. You can get one that fits snugly over the nail head to keep everything centered.
Yeah, but getting that new sheet up into the attic could be a bit tricky!