Things You'll Need:
- Razor knife A 10-inch flat drywall knife Flatbar Hammer Two sawhorses
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Step 1
Run your razor knife all along the length of the moulding where it meets the wall, on the top and bottom, to loosen and cut through any caulk, adhesive or paint that's sealing the wood to the wall.
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Step 2
Start at a seam between two pieces of moulding, either in a corner or a length. If you can see where the first nails are holding it in, start about there; otherwise, start about a foot from the end. Lay your drywall knife flat on the floor and press the long flat edge against the bottom edge of the moulding.
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Step 3
Rest the curved side of the flatbar on the flat surface of the drywall knife, with the pointed edge of the flatbar pressing against the bottom edge of the moulding. Tap the flat bar with a hammer to nudge the tip under the moulding. Gently pry it apart from the floor, letting the drywall knife protect the floor from the pressure of the flatbar. Separate the mouldling from the floor just enough to loosen it.
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Step 4
Move the drywall knife to the wall above the moulding piece, working the long edge of the knife a little down into the crevice between the moulding and the wall so that the knife stays there on its own. Press the flatbar against the knife and down into the crevice with the hammer as before, and pry it away from the wall.
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Step 5
Move the knife and flatbar to the next set of nails, or move them about two feet if you can't see the nails, and repeat the process on the top and bottom edges of the board. Continue working along the whole length of the moudling until you can gently remove the whole intact piece from the wall.
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Step 6
Set the piece on the sawhorses face down, so the sharp ends of the nails are sticking up. Tap them through the wood with your hammer, then flip the board over and use the hammer claw to take out the nails. As before, use the flat side of the drywall knife to support under the hammer so it doesn't mar the wood surface.
