Wood trim removal technique
1 of 2
Photo 1: Insert two taping knifes
Jam a
pry bar
between the
two knives
and twist
sideways.
2 of 2
Photo 2: Pull nails from the backside
Grab the
nail shaft
near the wood
with a pair of
nippers. Roll
the tool head
against the
wood to pull
the nail out the
back side of
the trim.
If you’re trying to remove baseboard or other moldings, chances are you’ll dent the walls or crack the trim in the process. Follow these simple techniques to avoid additional wall and trim repairs.
Begin by cutting through any dried
paint along the top edge of the trim
with a utility knife. Then search for
the filled nail holes at one end of the
trim. Prying near those will keep you
from breaking out the drywall. Slide a
flexible 3-in. putty knife behind the
trim and pry out slightly. With the
knife in place, wedge in a pry bar and
pry the trim out an inch. If it seems
like the trim is about to crack, insert a
second putty knife between the pry
bar and the trim. Move to the next
stud and repeat the procedure.
Continue prying out the trim a little at
a time down its length. Then go back
to the beginning and pull the trim off.
Pushing the nails back through the
front of the trim will splinter the
wood. Instead, pull them through the
back with a nippers (Photo 2). Use just enough
pressure to pull the nails to avoid
cutting them off. If one breaks off,
cut it as close as possible to the wood
and leave it. That nub will just bury
itself in the drywall when you reinstall
it.
