How to Remove Door Trim

Ever read instructions that ask you to remove the door trim before installing a new door or working on the walls and floor? While removing the door trim is fairly easy, it can require some finesse if you want to avoid damaging the trim, or intend to reuse the trim after you have finished the job.

Removing door trim is also not uncommon if you have a historic home with detailed wood work you wish to refinish. Removing the door trim and stripping and refinishing it on a saw horse may be easier and more effective than other methods.

Step 1: Remove the door before attempting to remove the trim by removing the pins in each hinge. Then carefully lift the door and discard it for the duration of the project.

TIP: Have someone hold the door for you while your removing the pins to prevent the door from falling. You may also need help removing the door if it is a heavy exterior door.

Step 2: Use a screwdriver to remove the sections of each hinge that are attached to the door frame. Place the hinges and any fasteners you remove along with the pins in a bag for easy reinstallation.

Step 3: Remove any caulk sealing the door trim to the surrounding wall with a utility knife. Work carefully so you slice only the caulk, not the surrounding wall or trim. Continue until all of the caulk has been removed.

Step 4: Place a piece of board against the wall, about 2 inches from the door trim. Place a small pry bar so the tip of the bar is underneath the door trim, but resting on the scrap wood to prevent damaging the wall.

Step 5: Carefully work the pry bar to remove the door trim from the wall. Once you have pulled the trim about a half inch from the wall, move the location of the pry bar to pry away the next section. Continue working on a single section of the door trim until you can remove it with your hands.

TIP: While removing pieces of the door trim is easy, you may become confused when it becomes time to reinstall the trim. Try drawing a diagram and labeling each piece of trim in that diagram with a number. Then number the back of each board as you remove it. This way you will not have to guess during the re-installation process.

Step 6: Continue removing pieces of door trim until the door opening is completely bare. If you intend to reuse the trim, clip away the ends of any fasteners so they are flush with the back of the door trim. Otherwise, use a hammer to bend the nails, and then carefully discard the trim.