Comments on: Removing Baseboards

By: Baseboard help!!!!!!, a discussion at The Floor Pro Community

Baseboard help!!!!!!, a discussion at The Floor Pro Community — Sun, 06 May 2012 22:48:45 +0000

[...] Pro Community. I feel like I have another friend in Minnesota and I've never even been there. Glad my baseboard article could be a little help. I'm especially pleased that some of the advice you got here echoed my own. [...]

By: tim

tim — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 23:47:00 +0000

Thanks that was useful

By: Flooring cleats sometimes going into face of board (Page 3), a discussion at The Floor Pro Community

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 02:22:50 +0000

[...] By the way, this kind of tool makes a great nail puller for a lot of different applications, including misfired cleats or staples in hardwood flooring. Rest the shoulder of the tool on the subfloor, grip the cleat (not too tight) and rock it over. I showed its use in an article I did about R&R baseboards: How To Remove Baseboards Without Damaging the Wall or Base | a Flooring Professional [...]

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:30:31 +0000

Thanks for this DIY on baseboards. Luckily my baseboards are brand spanking new and no paint or caulking was done yet. My husband and I get to remove these prior to our floors being done (concrete staining). To avoid more unnecessary funds spent on the construction people who put them on when they should not have in the first place, we are removing baseboards by ourselves. If I want the job done correctly, I learned that sometimes I can rely on the professional and then there are those times I just can’t rely on the professional to do things the way I need them done. I have no choice but to research and do it myself, unfortunately. You have taught/written well. Yours by far is the best step by step instructions and it’s well written where “I get it”! Although i know baseboards I have are a “no-brainer” but I want to salvalge as much as I can of the baseboards to reuse and not make new holes in my new drywall. Thank you.

By: Jim McClain

Jim McClain — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 02:24:45 +0000

Hi Barbara. If there is an acceptable expansion gap between the edge of the new hardwood and the baseboard, you may want to just add a quarter-round molding to the existing base to cover the gap. If the base is damaged, or the hardwood has no expansion gap, you can remove the existing base. It will be time consuming, but you can use a sharp wood chisel and hammer. Place the chisel’s beveled edge flat on the floor where it meets the baseboard. The handle will be sticking up at an angle. Hammer through the base as best you can and then follow the same directions I gave for regular base removal.

There will be the left-over broken bottom part of the base left and maybe some of the nails. Pry out the base pieces and the nails, being careful not to damage the wall or the hardwood.

Now you can install new base – be sure to leave that expansion space by putting the new base flush with the top surface of the hardwood. It’s very likely that you will need to add the quarter-round molding too. The finished project should make for an attractive and professional looking finish. You can find even more support for issues like this from hundreds of flooring professionals at The Floor Pro Community Forums.

By: barbara

barbara — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 23:19:59 +0000

help. the builder did not remove the baseboards when they put the hardwood floors in. How can I cut out the baseboards to replace them?

By: Tab

Tab — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 05:27:22 +0000

Hey Jim, thank you very much for publishing this article. We are ripping up our carpet tomorrow and I thought “I wonder if there are any tips on removing the baseboards?” Your tips will be extremely helpful tomorrow.

Thanks!!

By: Jim McClain

Jim McClain — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:47:10 +0000

Thanks Jessica. If you have any questions or concerns about your flooring, the best place to get answers is The Floor Pro Community. Good luck on your remodeling project.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:16:08 +0000

This is really helpful. We’re redoing my daughter’s room, and were planning on replacing the baseboard completely anyway. I was looking for the best way to remove the baseboard that’s in there, and found this article. So far this is the best way I’ve seen!

By: 1hunid

1hunid — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:16:38 +0000

Im in the process of installing wood laminate floors and was gonna avoid pulling up my baseboards because I figured it would be extra work. I came to my senses and found this article. Very clear and concise. Great stuff. I will keep you posted on how this worked out for me.