 Custom Search Installing Baseboard, Remove And Replace Or Install NewYou may be installing baseboard or removing and reinstalling your existing baseboard, you need to determine what your going to use to cover the expansion gap around the walls if you installed laminate or hardwood flooring. You have a few options here. I will show you how to remove and replace the existing baseboard or how to install new baseboard. The other option would be to install quarter round on the existing baseboard to cover the gap between the laminate or hardwood flooring..
Removing Existing BaseboardRemoving the baseboard so you can reinstall it after the new flooring is installed is one way to save some money. It saves you from having to cut each piece when installing new baseboard but you will have to put time into cleaning the old baseboard and maybe repainting it.
Getting the baseboard loose from the wall To remove the baseboard from the wall you may think that using a pry bar at the top will work. I have found that doing it this way can sometimes push the drywall in and then you will have to patch it. The best way is to use a small thin pry bar at the bottom, find a spot where you can work it under the baseboard and pry it up enough to get a larger pry bar under and then you can pry it loose with the larger pry bar.
Pry the Baseboard from the Back After you have the baseboard loose from the wall pry it away from the wall from the back. Do not push the pry bar but pull it towards you. This way you will not put pressure on the drywall which could push it in.After removing each piece of base board mark the back with a number and mark on the wall where the base board was with the same number. This way when its time to reinstall the base board there will be no guess work as to where each piece goes. Preparing the Base Board for ReinstallationRemove all the nails from the base board and any nails that are still in the wall. You can use nail pullers or even a pair of pliers. Pull the nails out from the back of the base board.Next you will need to remove the old chalking from the base board that was used when the base was originally installed. There will be chalking on the top and most likely some on the back that will need to be removed. You could use a utility knife to do this, but it is a little dangerous and the knife tends to cut into the wood base board. I like to use a rasp which is much safer and inexpensive to purchase at Home Depot or Lowes. Use the rasp on the top and along the back of the base to remove all the old chaking. Painting the Base BoardYou may not notice how beat up base board can get until you remove it and hold it in your hands.After going through all the trouble of removing the base and cleaning it, giving it a nice coat of paint will really set off your new flooring. Try not to skimp on the quality of paint as it does take a lot of abuse over time. I like to use a semi gloss or high gloss paint. Oil paint is a lot more messy, but can give you a much more durable surface when dried. Before painting wipe it down with a damp rag to remove dirt and dust. Using some sandpaper to smooth it down will also give it a newer look once painted. Don't use a sandpaper that is too rough as it will leave scratch marks. If the old paint has a high gloss you may need to prime it first with a high quality primer. When painting keep an eye out for runs that may form on the bottom edge of the base board. This will cause the base board to not set flat on the laminate or hardwood flooring.
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