- 1). Put on the safety glasses and work gloves. When removing the base molding, it can easily splinter and hit your eyes or stab into your hands. This is particularly true with older wood.
- 2). Run the knife along the top of the base molding to cut any fusing that may have occurred between the molding and the wall. Molding is sometimes painted over at the same time as the wall, making it difficult to remove the molding without damaging the wall if it isn't cut apart first.
- 3). Locate the nails. There should be a nail or two near the end of the board and another nail every yard or so along the wall.
- 4). Place the pry bar at the top of the molding above the nail. The pry bar should be J or L shaped. The short side is for removing nails, while the long portion is for general prying.
- 5). Use the base of your hand to firmly tap on the top of the pry bar, forcing it between the wall and the molding. If you can't apply enough force with your hand, use the hammer. Using the hammer increases the chance of damage to the wall and molding.
- 6). Gently push the pry bar toward the wall without letting the short end touch the wall. This should separate the molding from the wall.
- 7). Turn the pry bar to be more parallel with the molding and slowly work it down the length of the molding. This should remove the molding in one piece and leave few to no marks on the wall.
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