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Remove Baseboard with the Trim Puller

Baseboard and Trim, All Posts, Demolition, Door and Window Casings

I previously demonstrated how to remove baseboards without damaging your walls or trim using a handful of tools. The task is pretty easy either way but using the Trim Puller has proven to be the easiest and fastest way to remove baseboards without damaging drywall.

Remove Baseboard with the Trim Puller
Trim Puller

Baseboard Removal using many tools

The old way requires the use of a whole handful of tools as you shimmy along the run of baseboard, pulling the molding away from the wall as you go.  And by a whole handful I’m talking:

  • utility knife
  • 5 in 1 painters tool
  • hammer
  • pry bar
  • a block of wood
how to remove baseboard from walls

Remove Baseboard with the Trim Puller

Don’t get me wrong, Using many tools to remove moulding works just fine.  Using the Trim Puller just makes it WAY easier!

  • The trim puller has a sharp tapered edge doing away with the need for the 5 in 1 painters tool.
  • It has a wedged center that helps push the baseboard away from the wall
  • The surface area that contacts the wall is waaay bigger than that on a crowbar or hammer claw so you don’t need a block of wood to disperse the pressure.
Awesome tool for removing trim from wall without damage!

You still need to cut the caulk along the top edge of the baseboard so your drywall paper doesn’t tear.  In the photo below I initially only cut through the caulk up to the halfway point on my wall and you can see what happened when I pulled the baseboard passed that point.  I quickly stopped prying and finished cutting the rest of the caulk before I caused any serious damage.  

  • Cut through the old caulk along the entire length of the old baseboard
Easily remove baseboards without damaging your walls
  • Insert Trim Puller

Start the end of the wall so you have at an end joint; either an inside or outside corner. Now you just need the Trim Puller and a hammer to get it started.  One whack of the hammer and the Trim Puller slid through the rest of the caulk and down behind the baseboard.

Do you have to remove baseboards to install wood flooring? I do

No damage to my baseboard.

Easily remove baseboards without damaging your walls OR baseboards.

I put a lot of put a lot of pressure onto the trim puller to see if I could bust a hole in my drywall.  I couldn’t. The surface is wide and flat so it distributes the pressure over a large enough surface to prevent damage.  (I’m sure it is possible to cause damage to your drywall in certain situations and circumstances, especially when you’re trying to…but I was using above average force for this task and my drywall held.)

Remove baseboards without damaging your walls WITHOUT a block of wood!

Then I simply moved down the wall prying with the Trim Puller every 8-12″ or so.

Easily remove baseboards without damaging your walls.
Easily remove baseboards without damaging your walls.

For safety, I always pull the nails out of the old baseboard after it’s removed, regardless of whether or not Finishing nails are easily removed with a pair of pliers and you can fill the old nail holes along with the new ones after you reinstall the baseboard.

I consider this as a real “work smarter” tool.

How to remove baseboard trim without damage
Easily remove baseboards without damaging your walls!

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Comments

  2. My husband can use this when he replaces the floors in the upstairs bedrooms. Looks like a great product!

  4. This is exactly what I need!! My trim needs repairing from the dogs who lived in my house previously. 🙂

  5. I have a whole room to remove of trim that I have been putting off just because of the work of repairing the drywall that will come afterwards. This would get the job done quickly, without repairs. I soooo need this!!!!!

  6. Ooooh. This is great! We could use this this month as we redo our floor and baseboards in most of the house next month!

  7. This is funny, I have been avoiding fixing all of our laminate floors (they were installed without the baseboards being removed), but this might make the project a bit more doable!

  9. What an awesome tool. I plan to replace all my baseboard trim. This would help so much!

  10. Okay I absolutely love this! I have pulled off old trim countless of times back in my hardcore remodeling days. I plan on buying another home in 6 months, now that I’ve moved south and am doing it all again. This will come in handy.

  11. How did you know we want to break in into home fit by installing hardwoods??? This tool would be a great start!

  13. What a great tool. I’ve used the old method and it is tedious. This is such an improvement. I love learning from you.

  14. I need to remove 65 year old bathroom trim so I can tile. Would love to give this a try.

  15. What a cool tool! We are planning to replace our flooring with hardwood floors and removing the baseboards are must.

  16. Pulling the trim off is EXACTLY what’s keeping me from a couple projects. GET IN MY TOOL BOX!!!!!

  18. I’ve started renovating a 1929 Greek Revival & am currently working on the Master Bedroom that will become my daughters room. Just 2 days ago I was wondering exactly how I could remove the trim safely without damaging the walls! Seriously!! Your timing is impeccable!

  19. What a great tool! I’m planning on creating a planked feature wall in my cottage garden themed guest room and this would be a perfect tool for this project!

  20. Just used the old method on a mudroom, this would make the other room go much more smoothly.

  22. I plan on changing out all the trim in my house this year and this tool would be such a huge help!

  25. I have been waiting to begin a cabinet project in the kitchen because there is so much trim. This would be great!

  26. I’m going to use this on my whole house. We bought a 60’s track house ranch, pretty sure the baseboards have been there the whole time!

  27. I have put off projects because of the hassle of removing the trim, so this would let me tackle some of my long-held “to do” items.

  28. I’m getting ready to redo the old tile linoleum in our bathrooms, this would be perfect.

  29. DAMN GOOD IDEA! I HAVE PUT A HOLE IN DRYWALL BEFORE AND THIS WILL NOT DO THAT.

  30. Need to pull baseboards in a spare bedroom in two weeks to install wainscot. This tool would greatly help me out.

  31. This is great. We’re starting the renovation of our bathrooms hopefully this month so it would be just in time.

  32. Great product! I have a whole house of trim that needs some replacing!! Thanks for the give-a-way!!

  33. that is awesome. so much easier. i could use it for door trim, window trim, baseboards. that would save a lot of time.

  34. Really enjoy your posts. You are quite a lady. Love the way you will tackle any project and not afraid to show you errors and how you overcame them. I would love to have the trim puller for my tool box. Have removed a lot of baseboards and this looks like the way to make it much simpler. Thanks for all of your posts.

  35. Woo! Thanks for tell us about this – I’m about to install hardwood floor throughout the house and was dreading the trim removal process!

  37. My first floor baseboards!! Would LOVE to see them GO!! (2nd floor had none and is now all new) Not looking forward to that job so this should make it easier!

  39. What a great tool! I want to install board and batten and my baseboards need some work!

  40. I STOPPED pulling up my baseboards in the living & family rooms because it was so difficult! So now I have old baseboards and no baseboards ?. Would love an easier tool!

  43. What a great tool! That would make the process of redoing our trim so much easier!

  46. What a great tool! And a money saver too! Going to buy one….if you don’t draw my name. :>)

  47. yes, please! On the list is replacing base board and trim. this would be so nice to have!

  49. This looks to handy!!! Would love to use this for our next home renovation project! Thanks for sharing the tutorials and the review!

  50. Yeah this would seriously come in handy. Even though right now I have WAY more trim installation than pulling to do!

  51. Getting ready to put tile down in bathroom, now this tool is sweet for removingg the baseboards.

  52. What a great tool, it would come in so handy when we redo the bathroom and laundry room.

  53. DONE MANY THE OLD FASHION WAY, GOT SOME TRIM TO DO IN BATH AND KITCHEN.KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

  57. The ceiling in my dining room is 12″ acoustical tiles with various layers of molding in the upper corners. I’d like to remove the tile and molding so that I can replace it with drywall and then reinstall the moldings. Do you think this tool is up to the job?

    • Yes, it’s great for molding and tiles. It also does a good job of remove shoe molding (quarter round), ceramic tiles, decorative molding on doors, chair railing, etc.. 🙂

  58. Would love this tool considering I’m about to do some damage in kitchen (remodel) myself need all the help I can get

  59. Thank you Sawdust Girl for all your educating posts- you give us Following Girls inspiration! My dads home flooded during Texas Floods in Late May -we removed all carpet and are in the process of replacing floors -not wanting to re-install carpet we are looking at other options, laminate, stained concrete, DIY plywood floors . He did not have insurance so $ will be determining factor . Actually pulling baseboards and not damaging already compromised sheet-rock has been one of my concerns . So, even if I am not a winner of this ingenious product-I will definitely be purchasing one -so thank you for posting it on your blog ! Have a great & blessed week-end !

  60. I would love to have one of these to remove the trim boards on my tool shed which need replacing. This would make the job a lot easier!

  61. Holy Smart Smokes!!! That Trim Puller inventor needs a couple of hundred gold stars! I know we all could find uses for this other than trim pulling. :))) Thanks for the link and the video too.

  62. Ahhh! I SO need one of these because I plan on removing 100% of the ugly baseboard in my new house. I’m guessing this would work on window/door trim as well?

  64. Now THAT is an awesome tool! Would prove very useful in my house for sure. Love your tool tips!

  65. I am about to redo our guest room. This just might be another “need to have” tool for my collection!

  68. Fantastic! unlimited gold stars to the inventor and you for sharing this! I am betting we can find even more uses for this than just trim removal.:))))

  69. Wow! Impressive tool. Can’t wait to show my husband and…it makes me want to take apart a room!

  71. I’d remove every single baseboard in my house if I had a Trim Puller. We’re buying a home and I’m going to do all sorts of things to it so the Trim Puller will come in handy. Why waste time doing it the other way? Thank you for the chance to win such a useful tool.

  72. Oh how I wish I had seen this tool prior to all the demos I’ve done!!! Baseboards are not my fave remodel project! Hub usually does all the install and I get to paint, fill holes, sand and paint again! But at least with this tool, pulling old ones off to replace, or to put back on after doing flooring (which is exactly what my next project is,,,,,hint, hint,,!!) would make life so much easier!!! I would love to add this to my tool arsenal!

  73. What an exciting product! I have damaged more walls and baseboard and spent countless hours patching walls and gluing and patching baseboards back together. This could be my new “best” friend!!

  74. Ooh, boy! This tip came just in time! I’m getting within a week or so of replacing all the trim in my kitchen and dining room. This looks seriously amazing and easy!

  77. Where was this tool 3 months ago when we started renovations?!? Definitely need to get one of these!

  81. What a cool tool! We are slowly replacing the woodwork in our 50’s home. The original woodwork is so hard to remove off the plaster walls! I think this would work great!

  82. I love when you introduce me to new tools. They immediately go on my wish list! Thank you! I’ve removed some baseboards with many more to go. Would love to win one!

  83. I have 3 bedrooms left to work on and my hallway. I am remodeling my ranch style home into a craftsman. I could soooo use this tool. I would work for chair railing and paneling too. It would work for any kind of trim work! I would love one.

  85. Looks like the Trim Puller is a winner. Wouldn’t mind winning one but will look into buying one anyway. Like your work.

  86. OHMIGOSH! I totally could have used this on my last project where I had to remove baseboards to install beadboard in my bathroom (because I accidentally peeled off all of the drywall part down to the backing while peeling the terrible paint job off in sheets). The previous owners tiled up to the baseboards with ceramic tile so they were wedged in there too tightly and I now have humongous holes behind the new baseboards, but sssshhhh, don’t tell my husband! Turned out great, but I sure could have used this tool! I have more projects I want to do where baseboards need to be taken off first so it would be great to have one now!

  88. I’d tackle my bedroom closet. Need to remove the baseboard trim before I can install the closet cabinetry!

  89. What a fantastic tool. I could of used this a few weeks ago when I was replacing all my bedroom trim and baseboards.

  90. What project would I tackle = the entire house. Seriously the entire house is a 1973 fixer upper.

  91. Wow! That looks like a nifty tool. I definitely want to use that the next time I’m pulling trim. We have replaced the floors and trim in almost every room in our house. 1 bathroom and 2 bedrooms to go.

  93. I would use this in the bathroom ! Throw the putty knife and crow ow away ! This looks so much easier

  96. OMG! I so need one of these, just removed trim in two rooms after watching your original video. so love this tool! I have the rest of the house to remove trim in, hope I win one!
    Thanks for showing me this.

  97. I would remove the trim in bathroom first, then all the mismatched trim in dining room… ? and be a happy camper tht my diy project didn’t turn into hiring a drywall professional to fix my faux pas!

  98. I would like to replace the paneling in my basement, but was afraid of damaging the baseboards.

  100. I LOVE this idea! I wish I had a picture of the last time I pulled baseboards. I had a HUGE hole in my wall :-/

  101. Sandra, you have the best tools! They’re always cool, practical and affordable! Replacing all the baseboards in our 20 year old house is on our DIY list. The Trim Puller would make the job so much easier and less problematic for the drywall. I had no idea such a tool existed. Thanks!

  102. Getting ready to do the bedroom floors… 4 bedrooms! This would be awesome to have and use.

  103. Looks like a great tool, I am renovating an 1892 Victorian era home that has tons of wood trim literally… And this would help save it from damage.

    Awesome videos.. Thanks for the inspirations..

    But I could not get that app to work, even though it said I left a message.. I did not haha

  104. I would use it to take the baseboards off the wall in my son’s bedroom. Just pulled the ones off our spare bedroom wall- “the hard way.”

  105. I have a houseful of baseboard that’s gonna be replaced. You haven’t steered me wrong yet!

  106. Awesome! I just removed a ton of trim in my sister’s house and it took forever and my wrists were so sore afterwards. This would have saved me SO MUCH TIME!

  107. This is really cool……I can’t.tell you how many baseboards I have ruined and walls…..we r constantly fixing up places…and end up taking so long because I can’t take the baseboards off very well…

  108. I need to redo a bathroom and the thought of removing the baseboard is just daunting!

  109. I have been replacing quite a bit of old trim in my house lately. This looks like something that would be very useful.

  111. So cool! And I have SO much baseboard waiting to be removed and replaced! Gimme gimme gimmee!(Please)

  117. Renovating a whole house right now! This sure looks useful, and I’d love to give it a try.

  118. We are working to update our main bathroom (paint, flooring, fixtures, etc.). I was just thinking this morning about what a pain removing all the trim will be. This would be a huge help!

  119. This would have been so muh easier to have on hand instead of the old way with all the tools. My husband tried the Macho way as well, and you can imagine what happened next! Thanks for the demonstration!

  120. That is very cool… I’ve got a room I want to redo the floors in and just put up baseboards a year ago… Would love to buy a tool like this or win one!

  122. Great tool! We would like to replace the flooring on our main level, and the baseboard removal was one of my concerns — I’d be so stoked to win this giveaway. Thanks! 😀

  123. I have only recently found your blog, and am so inspired by you! What a perfect tool to win, as my goal is to replace all of the trim in our home myself. I’m even looking into your online consultation, as I have never done wood work before. This looks like an great tool to own.

  125. I love your blog – we just bought our first house last year and this tool is just what we need!

  126. I would love to have this tool to remove the baseboards in the dance space I am creating for my daughter. Girl, you always have the BEST tools.

  127. this is one of the coolest tools I have ever seen!! We are about to start a project where this would come in so handy!

  128. My dining room is on the agenda for an August makeover. I would love to give this a try on removing the baseboards and the chair rail trim!

  129. I’d use this sucker for my entire house!!!!! We have to do all of the trim. We are in the process of saving up $ for it and this sure would help to get us started!! 🙂

  130. Wow , how did you know I’ve got to pry up the baseboards in the guest room to put new floors down?so , I really need that tool ! Lol! Thanks for the chance to win.

  131. We are slowly remodeling rooms as we can afford it. We haven’t touched the upstairs yet in this old farmhouse, but this would be great to use when we get to it!

  134. This would be very helpful in getting some projects done around our home. I ask and nothing gets done so I need to do it myself (which I’m not great at). Maybe with a simple tool like this I can even get my sons to help!! Does it come in pink?

  135. I would tackle my livingroom. Our new puppy has pulled up a big chunk of carpet while she was in her kennel. We are gonna pull the carpet up and just have our concrete floor until we can afford new flooring.

  136. This would be super helpful for when we redo the flooring in our living room and hallway!!!

  137. I recently purchased my first home……LOTS of projects to do! One of which…all the baseboards need to be replaced! This trim puller would be a perfect to to help make THIS job a bit easier!!

  138. There have been so many times I could have used this! Glad somebody was smart enough to make the job easier!

  139. I am doing a kitchen Reno for my Mom and Dad! This would be a great tool to add to my tool box.

  142. My son’s have water damaged the baseboard under their sinks. I have new DYING to fix it but didn’t want to damage the wall and the space is limited bc of the sink legs. Th might be just the solution!!!

  143. We’re doing a total remodel of a crusty old house…lots of molding on upside down, too small, just wrong. This tool could make my life a lot easier!

  145. I’m actually pulling up carpet right now to replace flooring, this would make taking the baseboards off sooooo much easier!

  146. So cool! We just bought a house and I secretly want to change all of the trim. Maybe this tool will make breaking the news to my husband easier 🙂

  147. I would totally remove ALL of the baseboards in my house. Actually, it’s on my to-do list for the next few weeks so here’s hoping I win!

  148. I’m closing on my new (to me) home next week. This would be a great tool for the remodel!

  149. My 13 year old son is the “remover of all base boards” in our house. He could certainly use this tool since the last time he helped on a project my walls looked horrible afterward 🙂 We have a living room in desperate need of a baseboard upgrade.

  150. I can’t tell you how many problems I’ve had with trim….this would be amazing tool to have we do a lot of remodels…and would save a lot of money…

  152. I need to replace all the subfloor in my house. This post came at just the right time!

  154. We’re in the process of replacing ALL of our flooring throughout the house and decided we hate our current baseboards and trim around the doors. This tool will sure make it a less painful process as we remove EVERYTHING and replace it with a more modern choice–white baseboards, trim, and railing. Wish us luck!

  155. Doing home remodeling for a living this would be a very useful tool. I have had to to repair several walls removing trim boards ,great ideal Thank you for the chance

  156. Perfect timing! We’re looking at remodeling every part of our 1956 Ranch and putting in taller trim is part of that big project!!

  157. A 100 times yes please! Not only would it be useful in the home, but perhaps taking pallets apart and old furniture for re-securing.

  158. Wow, I just discovered your FB page and since we do a lot of remodeling in rentals, it looks like it will be my new favorite tool. Baseboards have always been my job….my life just got easier!

  159. This post is a God-send. I am just about ready to replace my baseboards in my kitchen, living and hallway. I so need this. Thanks for the info. I am crossing my fingers I can win this. It will make my hubby’s year!

  160. Getting ready to replace our bedroom carpet with wood floors and this would be amazing at helping me dive in to remove all the trim moulding in my bedroom 🙂

  161. We could use this to remove all of the current molding and replace it with it newer molding.

  163. Love the design of the tool and hope I am able to be lucky winner. I purchased a fixer upper and have been spending weekends on my diy projects.

  165. I would totally talk the hubby into at least considering changing out the flooring in our home.

  166. Oh my!! Just getting ready to remove baseboard trim to put up ship lap ! I need this!

  167. We do a lot of updating on our properties and could really use this. I do know how to do it the hard way but this looks much quicker.

  168. Because I already plan to replace ALL of the trim in my house and not needing to patch holes as I go would be amazing.

  169. I would use it to remove my baseboards so we can refinish the floors ..which hopefully will be before Christmas.

  172. What a fantastic tool. Sure could have used it pulling off the woodwork in our Master Bedroom and Bath. But I have more woodwork to pull off in the Office and Guest Bedroom coming up and this is a must have tool.

  177. Wow! What a nifty little tool and timesaver, I’m gearing up for a massive moulding and baseboard redo – this tool would save hours of time and also keep my poor back from all that pain.

  178. Master bathroom, although I’m not sure if we’re keeping the trim or replacing it yet!

  179. What a great concept!! What I would do to have had this for all my past projects—super time saver and anything that makes a project easier makes it more fun! Thanks for the opportunity to win one for my future dreams.

  180. Loving the look of this. Have a kitchen remodel coming up plus new flooring in the bathroom. Will definitely come in handy!

  182. Well, since I just gouged a hole in the drywall trying to remove window trim from my daughter’s room, I think I would use the Trim Puller to remove the rest of the trim and baseboard and save me from myself.

  183. This would be amazing!!! I have a whole house full of baseboards to remove. Also door casings! Thank you.

  185. I can’t wait to try this. my whole house is a remodel job so this would help in any area pulling up baseboards as I go from room to room.

  186. Are you kidding me? The only thing better than winning this tool would have been inventing it. Oh the walls I have damaged trying to “carefully” remove baseboards. What a great tool to add to my box.

  187. I’ve been wanting to re-do our damaged judges paneling in our dining room-but save the pieces to reuse. I think the trim puller would be perfect!

  188. This would be amazing for replacing the 70’s trim in our house!!!! I might actually get around to doing it with this 🙂

  191. I forgot about this tool but I have a large kitchen flooring project and I need to remove the baseboards. This will help a lot.

  193. Great article, I’ve been looking for an ‘easy’ way to remove the fireplace mantle & surround in our living room. It’s one of those bland, beige oak mantles that just about every developer uses, and suffice to say, not my taste at all. In its place, I’m going to build a wall of bookshelves! The built-ins will disguise the remaining tile surround, raise the TV up over the fireplace, and include doors that *hide* the TV, components, and hideous wiring. Wish me luck!

  194. Way cool product! I’d use it to take apart every baseboard when I’m installing mudroom and living room built ins!

  195. Great article! I’ve been looking for an ‘easy’ way to remove the fireplace mantle & surround in our living room. If I could describe this mantle in one word, it would be wrong. It’s the wrong height, the wrong style, the wrong everything. The living room has a vaulted ceiling, and the mantle & surround is tiny by comparison. The mantle is too narrow in depth and width to display much of anything, and it clashes with the slate tiles on the inner surround and floor. I’m also going to remove the fireplace (we don’t use it at all), I’m going to install 9′ tall built-ins to cover the wall, and provide a nice back drop to the fancy TV, as well as a place to hide components and wiring. Wish me luck!

  196. Wish this was around when I removed all the baseboards in my house, what a pain to fix the walls after.

  199. I’m planning on replacing all the old wood trim in my house with wider white trim. This tool would be a huge time saver!

  200. I need this now! What a timely offer. I need to remove window casing to extend it out to have a frame for installing inside mount bamboo shades on my casement windows. TEN of them! This tool would make it so easy and quicker. Can’t risk damaging the existing trim; it’s only a couple of years old and very expensive!

  201. I’m replacing the white-so-not-still-white carpet in the house and have to remove all the baseboards ahead of the hardwood install

  202. super cool. We are redoing our floors and this little tool could be a major wall saver for us.

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