How to Remove Trim and Molding

When we bought our new home, we loved everything about it except one thing. The horrible stained trim and molding. It looked as if the woodwork had been stained twenty times in the twenty years the house was built, and the dark stain made every room in the house look dark and dingy. Immediately we set out to learn how to remove trim and molding so we could replace it with new, bright-white trim. It didn't take long to figure out that there's more to it than just pulling it away from the walls! But once the job was complete, the new trim and molding looked GREAT!

Learn to remove trim and molding is not that difficult. You don't have to know your way around a toolbox, or have any experience at all. Simply follow the instruction we've provided and you'll be able to do it. By removing your old molding and trim, you will completely change the look of your home.

Materials needed to remove trim and molding:

- Heavy-duty X-Acto knife

- Hammer

- 6" steel drywall knife

- Flat bar

- Scrap sheet of plywood

- Needle noose pliers

Note - If you don't know what some of the materials listed above are, anyone at your local home improvement store (or hardware store) will be able to assist you in locating them.

How to remove trim and molding:

STEP 1 - The first thing you'll want to do is break the seal of the old trim. You see, when molding and trim is originally installed, it is usually sealed with caulk and/or paint. Over time, as more paint is applied to the trim, the layers become thick. Thus, you'll want to use an X-Acto knife and run it along the top of the trim, between the wall and the trim itself. It may take several swipes of the blade before the seal is broken, but you'll be able to see when it happens.

STEP 2 - When the seal is broke, you'll see a small gap between the wall and the trim. Take your drywall knife and insert it into the gap. Tap the knife with a hammer to widen the gap so that there is enough space to slide the flat bar in. Repeat this process all along the length of the woodwork to remove trim and molding.

STEP 3 - Now comes the fun part! Place the flat bar into the gap. Behind the bar, you'll want to protect the wall with a small sheet of plywood. This will keep the wall from becoming damaged as you remove trim. Now, gently begin to pry the molding away from the wall. As it separates, you'll be able to see nails pulling away. Change the position of your flat bar so that it is close to the nails and continue prying until it comes off completely.

STEP 4 - Once you're finishing removing trim from the wall, you'll notice several nails may be left behind. Use your needle nose pliers to remove both the nails remaining in the wall and from the molding and trim. This will prevent injury when the trim is discarded.

That's all there is to removing trim and molding! It's really very easy, don't you think? And because no one is perfect, you may need to patch a few spots in the wall that the new molding and trim won't cover. Learn how to repair a plaster hole yourself in no time.

More from Jennifer Wagner:

How to use decorative molding to improve the look of your home

Easy focal point ideas for home decorating

Ideas for decorating short windows

SOURCE:

Personal knowledge and experience

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/yahoocontributornetwork/how-to-use-decorative-molding-to-improve-the-look-of-your-home-2473388

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http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6257596/ideas_for_decorating_short_windows.html?cat=30

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6051854/how_to_repair_a_plaster_hole.html?cat=6