How to Remove Trim without Wall Damage

February 2021

Here’s a simple way to remove trim without putting decent holes in your wall or pulling some of the paint and drywall paper off – it may take longer to remove the trim but overall, it’s faster than having to patch holes from your prybar or mud, sand, and texture where the wall comes with your old trim.

Tools you’ll Need

  • Utility Knife: My Olfa is going on 10 years (similar knife) I like that I can extend the blade out far to lay against the wall to trim the old caulk off.
  • Prybar: Mine was free with a large load of wood from BMC back in the day. (similar prybar). I have not used a trim puller.
  • Stiff Putty Knife / Chisel Scraper like this one.
  • Razor scraper – mine (optional depending on style of utility knife)
  • Piece of scrap wood

Cut the Caulk Line

Cut the caulk line along the top of the trim board and the angles in the corners with a utility knife – careful not to drag the edge of the casing or the tightening screw against the wall.

cut trim with a utility knife

Create a gap with a Stiff Knife

Wedge a stiff putty knife / chisel scraper in behind the baseboard. Wiggle it to get enough space for a medium size prybar. Work you way up and down as it will be harder to get a gap to open if you’re close to where it was nailed to the wall. The sweet spot is between where the board has been nailed — especially if the nails hit studs or the bottom plate. My rule-of-thumb, the installers likely nailed next to the outlet knowing that it was attached to a stud. That gives you a 16-inch or better run on either side to work with away from nails.

Stiff Putty Knife

Insert Prybar with Wood Backer

Inset prybar and place a piece of wood behind the prybar against the wall — this is the trick. The wood distributes the force against the wall and avoids the butt of the prybar digging into the wall. I use a slim piece of red oak that I have leftover from building our daughters vanity – it is a super strong wood and distributes the pressure.

Work your way down the wall loosening the board from the wall and off it comes eventually. Take your utility knife or a razor and remove excess caulk from the wall.

Now, on to your real project, eh!?

Related Posts