Remove Carpet Without Damaging Base Boards

Use something with a wedge to gently pry the baseboard from the wall.

Remove carpet without damaging base boards.

In most cases the baseboards can remain when you take up carpet. Many people have most of these tools or acceptable replacements handy. The hammer hatchet was more versatile in my work than just a hammer but the hammer end of it is all you need for this job. Use a pry bar that is suitable for the task too big and you might cause damage anyway.

If there s a metal nosing at the top of the stairs pry it up to remove it. Continue the removal process by moving to the. To remove carpet from stairs start at the top. Number or label the back of the trim and the lower edge of the wall to keep each piece in order if you will be putting the baseboards back in place.

Take any doors off the hinges that swing into the room where the. Using a utility knife slide along the top of the baseboard where it meets the wall. You should separate the paint or reside from the baseboard s connection to the wall. If you ve ever damaged trim wall or flooring while using a chunky clunky crowbar or pry bar to remove baseboard or sweated to insert a shim just right to keep those dings and dents at bay.

Removing baseboards can be a messy job one that often ends with a pile of broken trim that is completely unusable. Carpet layers prefer it that way because they can space the tack strip the right distance from the baseboard cut the carpet to size then stretch it and jam the cut edge of the carpet underneath 1 2 gap under the base which forces the carpet onto the tack strip. Lifting up a carpet is a lot easier with the help of an assistant. These are the tools i gave my helper to remove baseboards.