Removing Floor Trim

Equipment for removing old tile.

Removing floor trim.

For about 20 you can buy a floor scraper a broom size tool with an angled steel head used to strip off layers of flooring material. Start in the middle of the room. Taking care when removing the trimwork allows it to be reinstalled when a new floor is installed after the tile floor is removed. Trim fastened with these nails can be pulled off without removing the nails.

Typically vinyl flooring is perimeter installed meaning there s no glue or adhesive in the middle of the floor. With a putty knife remove baseboards and any trim that meets the floor. Use the utility knife to cut straight down the middle of your vinyl floor. Next move about 12 inches to the right or left and cut a strip parallel to the first.

With a putty knife peel up a corner of a tile or with a utility knife cut into the vinyl to begin removal of the flooring. Move to the next stud and repeat the procedure. Use a pry bar to pull the baseboards from the wall working carefully to prevent damage to the wall surface and the baseboard. If it seems like the trim is about to crack insert a second putty knife between the pry bar and the trim.

Often the tool is useful for dislodging the flooring material from the adhesive. We recommend using the following tools and safety equipment for tile removal projects. Label the backs of the baseboards and trim so you can easily reinstall them after you ve installed your new floor. How to remove hardwood flooring first set the blade depth on your circular saw.

Then go back to the beginning and pull the trim off. Our flooring is about 3 4 inches thick so i set the blade depth about 3 4 inches deep so that the blade cut through the hardwood floors without cutting into the plywood subfloor. Remove any appliances or built in furniture like cabinets if possible. With the quarter round removed use the utility knife along the top edge of the baseboard moulding to cut through any paint between it and the wall.

Remove the trim remove baseboards or trim work around the room. Cutting in narrow strips makes the task more manageable. You can then you can pull any nails remaining on the trim through the backside of the material leaving just a small hole on the face of the trim.