How to Carefully Remove Baseboard Trim

(3) And in my preferred method, you can carefully remove the baseboard trim and re-attach it once the new wood floor is installed.

This last solution can save you a small fortune in both dollars and time, as baseboard trim is expensive and time consuming to install.

Tools to Carefully Remove Baseboard Trim To carefully remove baseboard trim you need a number of tools including: a couple of putty knifes, a 6 inch taping knife, one or two large pry-bars, one small pry-bar, a hammer, a sharpie marker, adjustable pliers and a utility knife. Carefully Removing Baseboard Trim If there is caulk between the top of the baseboard trim and the wall use the utility knife to score a mark on the caulk. Next slide one of the putty knives behind the backside of one end of the baseboard trim piece and wall and move it back and forth a couple of inches, while working your way downward the length of the blade.

Then slide the second one in right in front of the first putty knife. Then slide the small prybar in between the two putty knives.

With the prybar pushed down in between the two putty knives worry the prybar backwards and forward, and with each movement slowly rocking the baseboard trim away from the wall.

Once you’ve opened up a half inch gap between the baseboard trim and the wall, slide the 6 inch taping knife behind the baseboard trim and then use the larger prybar to go deeper behind the baseboard trim. Preferably try to slide the prybar all the way down to the floor behind the baseboard trim. Then slowly pull forward on the prybar to further remove the baseboard trim from the wall. Continue down the length of the baseboard trim in this fashion until you can easily pull the length of baseboard trim from the wall with your hands.

Carefully Removing nails from Baseboard Trim Lay the baseboard trim down flat on the floor, on its finished surface side. Then, using the adjustable pliers pull the finish nails from the board. Once you grab onto each nail simply rock the pliers against the back of the baseboard trim wood to leverage the nail out. This nail removal method ensures you don’t damage the front surface of the baseboard trim. Next, use the adjustable pliers to remove any nails from the walls.

Mark the Baseboard Trim Piece and Wall

After removing the nails from the baseboard trim and wall, mark the back side of the baseboard trim and the related wall section with a unique number or identifier so that you know what trim piece goes with which section of the wall. A sharpie marker works perfect for this task.

Continue to work your way around the room removing the additional sections of baseboard trim. Once all the trim has been removed, clean, and if necessary, repaint the baseboard trim. After the new wood floor has been installed you can go back and re-attach the baseboard trim pieces to the wall.