Comments on: How to Replace Baseboard Molding: Step 1 – Remove the Old Baseboards http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/ DIY Home Improvement Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:58:22 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Tom http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/comment-page-1/#comment-55286 Tom Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:03:45 +0000 http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/#comment-55286 James, If you're going to use the same molding I'd recommend removing the existing nails and putting in new ones. Trying to bang in the same nails might just end up bending a few and making the whole project tougher to complete. To remove finishing nails you either tap them out gently from back side (so you're hammering the pointed part of the nail) of the molding or you can try to pull the finishing nails out. If you pull the finishing nails out, you'll want to pull them from the back of the molding. The best way I've found to pull out finishing nails is use a good set of pliers. I grab the shaft of the nail (again, on the back of the molding) and then I kind of turn the pliers in my hand, essentially trying to "twist" the nail around the pliers. My pliers will often end up pushing against the back of the molding for leverage, which is a good thing. If you truly have finishing nails and not nails with any sort of head then they should suck through the wood molding rather easily! The key to reusing the molding is this: make sure you do all your "work" (hammering or plier twisting) on the back of the molding, not the front. You don't want to chance a ding or dent on the front of the molding because that's what will be seen when you put it back up. Good luck! James,

If you’re going to use the same molding I’d recommend removing the existing nails and putting in new ones. Trying to bang in the same nails might just end up bending a few and making the whole project tougher to complete.

To remove finishing nails you either tap them out gently from back side (so you’re hammering the pointed part of the nail) of the molding or you can try to pull the finishing nails out. If you pull the finishing nails out, you’ll want to pull them from the back of the molding.

The best way I’ve found to pull out finishing nails is use a good set of pliers. I grab the shaft of the nail (again, on the back of the molding) and then I kind of turn the pliers in my hand, essentially trying to “twist” the nail around the pliers. My pliers will often end up pushing against the back of the molding for leverage, which is a good thing. If you truly have finishing nails and not nails with any sort of head then they should suck through the wood molding rather easily!

The key to reusing the molding is this: make sure you do all your “work” (hammering or plier twisting) on the back of the molding, not the front. You don’t want to chance a ding or dent on the front of the molding because that’s what will be seen when you put it back up. Good luck!

]]> By: James http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/comment-page-1/#comment-55256 James Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:56:52 +0000 http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/#comment-55256 If we are planning to re-install the same molding we removed: 1) Should we remove the existing finishing nails from the molding and is so what is the best way to do so? Or 2) Should we try to reuse them and if so what is the best procedure for doing so? If we are planning to re-install the same molding we removed:
1) Should we remove the existing finishing nails from the molding and is so what is the best way to do so? Or 2) Should we try to reuse them and if so what is the best procedure for doing so?

]]> By: Tom http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/comment-page-1/#comment-27179 Tom Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:20:16 +0000 http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/#comment-27179 Hmm... Cutting the baseboard molding while it's still on the wall might be rough because you need to cut the molding without cutting the floor or wall beneath it. I suppose you could get clever (and careful) and use a Dremel cutting tool to make a precise cut like that. It might be slow, but it could work. A reciprocating saw or circular saw would probably be too imprecise to use in that situation. Ideally you would remove the molding, make the cut, and then install the molding again. Let me know what you end up doing! Hmm… Cutting the baseboard molding while it’s still on the wall might be rough because you need to cut the molding without cutting the floor or wall beneath it. I suppose you could get clever (and careful) and use a Dremel cutting tool to make a precise cut like that. It might be slow, but it could work. A reciprocating saw or circular saw would probably be too imprecise to use in that situation. Ideally you would remove the molding, make the cut, and then install the molding again. Let me know what you end up doing!

]]> By: Fred http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/comment-page-1/#comment-26990 Fred Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:09:12 +0000 http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/#comment-26990 I want to cut a short piece of existing base molding without removing a 10 foot run. What is the best way to cut it while still on the wall? I want to cut a short piece of existing base molding without removing a 10 foot run. What is the best way to cut it while still on the wall?

]]> By: Tom http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/comment-page-1/#comment-25939 Tom Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:37:17 +0000 http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/#comment-25939 Rachel, You didn't mention if you have thumbnail molding around your baseboard molding yet... Generally you can use thumbnail molding to "finish" off the baseboards and hide any little gaps you may have where the baseboards don't completely meet the floor. You can see the <a href="http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-install-baseboard-molding/" rel="nofollow">before and after photos of my installed thumbnail molding</A> along my baseboards at the link. Rachel,

You didn’t mention if you have thumbnail molding around your baseboard molding yet… Generally you can use thumbnail molding to “finish” off the baseboards and hide any little gaps you may have where the baseboards don’t completely meet the floor. You can see the before and after photos of my installed thumbnail molding along my baseboards at the link.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/comment-page-1/#comment-25915 Rachel Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:32:56 +0000 http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/#comment-25915 I just moved into a house and the floor was recently replaced with a laminate hard wood. Unfortunately, it wasn't installed by a professional and they didn't remove the baseboards before doing the floor. There is a small gap about 1/8"-1/4" all around between the floor and the baseboard. Would it be possible remove the baseboards and then complete the job properly? Perhaps with a thicker base board or a wood filler and then new baseboards? I just moved into a house and the floor was recently replaced with a laminate hard wood. Unfortunately, it wasn’t installed by a professional and they didn’t remove the baseboards before doing the floor. There is a small gap about 1/8″-1/4″ all around between the floor and the baseboard. Would it be possible remove the baseboards and then complete the job properly? Perhaps with a thicker base board or a wood filler and then new baseboards?

]]> By: Tom http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/comment-page-1/#comment-21109 Tom Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:35:49 +0000 http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/#comment-21109 It's hard to tell just with a description of the molding, because the molding could have been done poorly or the house could have moved after the molding was installed. Cracks in the basement wall could indicate a much bigger problem and if the house and foundation really was unstable you might see that come through in unusual gaps in baseboard and crown molding. Your best bet would probably be to get a professional home inspection if you're serious about buying the house. It’s hard to tell just with a description of the molding, because the molding could have been done poorly or the house could have moved after the molding was installed. Cracks in the basement wall could indicate a much bigger problem and if the house and foundation really was unstable you might see that come through in unusual gaps in baseboard and crown molding. Your best bet would probably be to get a professional home inspection if you’re serious about buying the house.

]]> By: Nila http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/comment-page-1/#comment-20320 Nila Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:00:06 +0000 http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/#comment-20320 Hi, Recently we saw a home for sale,the moldings/trim are not done properly, there is huge gap between the wall and the moldings, looks very bad, does this indicate some problems with the house as we had seen couple of long cracks in the basement wall too. it is a 15 yr old home. Or is it just a bad moulding job done by the builder? i think they have replaces the flooring with wood floors and some carpets too. Thanks, Nila Hi,
Recently we saw a home for sale,the moldings/trim are not done properly, there is huge gap between the wall and the moldings, looks very bad, does this indicate some problems with the house as we had seen couple of long cracks in the basement wall too. it is a 15 yr old home. Or is it just a bad moulding job done by the builder? i think they have replaces the flooring with wood floors and some carpets too.

Thanks,
Nila

]]> By: How to Install Baseboard Molding | Home Improvements Depot http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/comment-page-1/#comment-3445 How to Install Baseboard Molding | Home Improvements Depot Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:32:28 +0000 http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/#comment-3445 [...] This is the last of three posts about installing baseboard molding. We’re finally ready to install the new baseboard molding. We’ve just removed the old baseboard molding and trim and we’ve installed the new trim around the doorways. Just like when we installed the trim, you’ll want a nail gun or a hammer with a countersink to put the nails in neatly without banging up the wood too much. [...] [...] This is the last of three posts about installing baseboard molding. We’re finally ready to install the new baseboard molding. We’ve just removed the old baseboard molding and trim and we’ve installed the new trim around the doorways. Just like when we installed the trim, you’ll want a nail gun or a hammer with a countersink to put the nails in neatly without banging up the wood too much. [...]

]]> By: Ingold http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/comment-page-1/#comment-2611 Ingold Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:33:58 +0000 http://www.homeimprovementsdepot.com/how-to-replace-baseboard-molding-step-1-remove-the-old-baseboards/#comment-2611 Loved the info on baseboards. I needed this after I replaced my hardwood floor. One thing that helped a lot, which I figured I'd post here is http://www.remodeling-guru.com/getestimate which lets you calculate the rough cost of the remodeling aspect you want to do -- worked well for me, so who know who else might find it useful. Loved the info on baseboards. I needed this after I replaced my hardwood floor. One thing that helped a lot, which I figured I’d post here is http://www.remodeling-guru.com/getestimate which lets you calculate the rough cost of the remodeling aspect you want to do — worked well for me, so who know who else might find it useful.

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