How to remove baseboards: 6 basic steps
Skirting boards (or baseboards as they are known in the UK) are primarily there to protect the base of the wall from wear and tear, but they can also be part of the interior design of your room. While it may seem difficult, removing baseboards is easy and these days you can actually buy baseboards made from a variety of different materials, usually MDF, pine or hardwood. For my taste it is better to install taller baseboards and I love a super high baseboard and the function it adds to the space.
How to remove baseboards step by step
You can also purchase baseboard covers that go over the top of your old floorboards to save yourself the hassle of removing them. Baseboard covers are also handy to use over pipes, but these are more expensive and you’ll need to add height if you’re covering old baseboards, which isn’t for everyone. But like I said replacing them will give a better finish. And you can also choose different shapes and styles of baseboards, ranging from modern and minimalist square boards to more decorative cone-shaped details.
1. Look for cables
(Image credit: Claire Douglas)
Before you begin, make sure you gently untie any cables that may be running along the top of your baseboards. Sometimes phone lines can be pinned up.
2. Clear the area
Removing baseboards can be a messy and dusty job and you need space to work as the skirting can be large and bulky. Lay down anti-dust sheets to protect the floor and plan your escape route from the house in advance.
3. Cut off the gasket
(Image credit: Claire Douglas)
Decorators seal like polycell (opens in new tab) is often used to fill in gaps between the baseboards and the wall and then paint is applied over it. You must break this seal to remove the boards, and the best way to do this without removing chunks of plaster from the wall is to carefully cut along the wall line with a utility knife. Unless you plan to repair or redecorate the walls after the baseboards are removed, be careful not to accidentally cut the surface of the wall with the utility knife.
4. Detach the skirting board from the wall
(Image credit: Claire Douglas)
Once you’ve cut along the joint, insert a chisel into the gap between the baseboards and the wall. Be careful not to poke the end of the chisel into the wall (try to locate the studs in the wall if possible). If necessary, tap the end of the chisel to bring the end further down behind the baseboards, then pull the chisel handle back firmly to loosen the baseboard from the wall. Move along the wall and repeat this process every few feet or until the board is loose enough to come off completely.
(Image credit: Claire Douglas)
5. Handling the nails or screws
(Image credit: Claire Douglas)
If you have nails or screws left in the wall after removing the baseboard, you can use pliers to pull them out or drive them in so they are flat.
6. Clean up
(Image credit: Claire Douglas)
When you remove the baseboards there is likely to be quite a bit of dirt and dust behind them that should be vacuumed. Be careful when discarding your old baseboards, especially if they still have screws or nails sticking out of them. If the wood isn’t in too bad a condition there are many projects you could reuse the baseboards for, some examples are below…
- Nail them together to make a wooden box
- Glue and staple pieces of baseboard together to make picture frames
- Take them out into the garden and make lawn or bed borders
- Cut them into smaller pieces and make upcycled shelves