How to Cut Baseboards With Wall Cords

Cut through any caulking running along the top of the baseboard covering the joint between the board and the wall. Use a sharp utility knife blade to cut through the material, splitting the caulk along the joint with a light amount of force to avoid cutting into the drywall or into the molding. Strip the caulk from the top of the baseboard and from the side of the wall by prying it up slightly with the edge of a putty knife and then pulling it away by hand.

Slip the tip of the pry bar beneath the bottom of the baseboard and then lever it slightly away from the wall, creating a gap between the wall and the body of the board. Move down the length of the board to pry it away in small sections, to avoid breaking the board in the middle.

Move the pry bar to the gap along the top of the baseboard and pull the board away from the wall, taking care to exert force on the rear of the board only, not against the wall. As with the bottom, work your way along the board, concentrating at the nailed in positions to pull it off without breaking it. In this way, you can reuse the board after cutting it.

Examine the board and the wall to determine the method used to run the cable through the section. Most cable runs are placed within the walls, covered with a steel panel at each stud point, but some cables run through a channel within the baseboard itself. Pull the cable from the body of the baseboard if it runs through the baseboard, either by prying it from the channel cut in the rear of the board, or by unplugging it from its connected end and then pulling it through an internal conduit placed within the baseboard body.

Mark the location across the baseboard where you wish to make your cut with a pencil on the rear of the board. Use a straightedge to keep the marked line straight across the board width.

Place the board face down on a cutting surface for PVC boards, or face up for laminate or wooden boards. Place a piece of masking tape across the board if cutting laminate baseboards to avoid chipping the surface. Cut the board along the marked line using a circular saw equipped with a blade intended for use on the board material. Remove any masking tape left on the board after cutting.

Replace the board if desired. Restore the cable to the channel along the rear of the board, or pass a fish tape through the conduit running down the length of the board to grasp the end of the cable in the small hook on the end, and pull it through the board’s tube. Place the board against the wall and then nail it back into place using the existing nails into the wall studs. If the cable runs through the drywall instead, just nail the board back into place.