Home Garden

Removing Baseboards Around a Living Room

Baseboards are secured to the wall with numerous nails, making them difficult to pull off. Many attack the job with just a pry bar, but this often leaves a mess: a pry bar can damage the drywall and pull off the paint. You can avoid any unnecessary repairs to the drywall and paint if you use tools that are not as destructive, and only use the pry bar as backup.

Things You'll Need

  • Nail punch
  • Hammer
  • Utility knife
  • Putty or broad knife
  • Flathead screwdriver
  • Pry bar
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove any door stops attached to the trim.

    • 2

      Tap a nail punch with a hammer into the finish nails on the face of the baseboard. This will push the nails further into the wall studs to make it less difficult to unseat the baseboard.

    • 3

      Slice through the seal of paint and caulk securing the baseboard to the drywall using a utility knife.

    • 4

      Insert the tip of a broad knife or putty knife behind the baseboard to separate it from the wall every few inches. Add leverage to the knife by using the tip of a screwdriver.

    • 5

      Wedge the tip of the pry bar in the gap created by the knife to pull away stubborn pieces of baseboard.

    • 6

      Pull the baseboard away with the pry bar every 5 to 7 inches. Work slowly and carefully to keep from damaging the drywall.