How to Remove Crown Moulding

Crown moulding is commonly used to accent a room's walls and ceilings, while adding a touch of sophistication. Like most finish carpentry trim pieces, crown moulding is installed using finish nails. These nails offer a strong bond that will most likely hold for the life of the moulding. Therefore, removing moulding that is fastened with finish nails can be a delicate task, but it's generally a straightforward one that can be accomplished using basic construction tools.

Things You'll Need

• Flat pry bar
• Framing hammer
• Lineman's pliers

Instructions

1. Slip the flat pry bar between the crown moulding and the wall or ceiling, tapping the pry bar with the framing hammer if necessary.

2. Carefully and slowly pry the crown moulding away from the wall or ceiling by pulling on the pry bar.

3. Work your way down the entire length of the crown moulding until the entire piece is free from the wall or ceiling.

4. Pull any nails from the crown moulding, wall, and ceiling using the lineman's pliers. Repeat steps as necessary on remaining crown moulding.

References

• "Finish Carpentry (For Pros By Pros)"; Clayton DeKorne and Ted Cushman; 2008
• "Trim Carpentry & Built-Ins"; Clayton DeKorne; 2002