Woodworking Community
Off with the old, in with the new. Removing that gastly, old trim you have in the dining room might not be that difficult of a job as you think. Here are some step-by-step instructions on how to get it done:
Step 1: Insert a pry bar at one set of nails and place a scrap of wood behind the bar to protect the wall. Pry gently outward to bow the molding away from the wall and loosen the nails. Move to the next set of nails and repeat the process until you’ve loosened the molding along its entire length. The easiest way to save a base shoe without breaking it is to drive its finish nails all the way through with a nail set.
Step 2: Work with a pair of pry bars to remove the molding, leapfrogging the bars in turn to gradually ease the moulding away from the wall without cracking or breaking it. With the moulding off, use a hammer or pry bar to remove any nails that remain in the wall. If you’re planning to reinstall the molding, label each piece as you remove it. This will save much time and confusion later.
With wider elements, such as baseboards, crown moldings, and the like, first drive a pair of taping knives behind the molding, then work a pry bar between the knives and molding. The knives ensure that the pry bar won’t gouge the walls. After you’ve loosened a few inches, wedge the molding away from the wall with a shim, then move along, prying and wedging as you go.
