baseboard removal

jwaw · 08-23-2009, 05:02 PM

first time poster, long time reader.

i just purchased an older house. it has a ton of character (as older homes usually do). anyway, i started removing the trim to update the walls and when i got to the baseboards, i hit a snag. they are installed with the bottoms behind the hardwood floor(tongue and groove). i've only take two small sections off so far.....and cracked both of them.

has anyone encountered this before??? any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

jw

Scuba_Dave · 08-23-2009, 05:09 PM

Mine are installed the same way - house from the 50's
I realized they will all break if I try to take them out
So they stay in
I stripped them & repainted in place

jwaw · 08-23-2009, 05:13 PM

thank you for the advice. my problem is that the walls are plaster and in need of repair/replacement. i'm sorry, i should've painted more of a picture.

Scuba_Dave · 08-23-2009, 05:15 PM

As in removing the plaster/sheetrock & installing new?
Are they plaster or sheetrock?
You could try ripping the plaster off & then cutting the baseboard nails with a sawzall

jwaw · 08-23-2009, 05:21 PM

it is plaster/lath.

that's one of the thoughts that crossed my mind. i also thought about cutting the baseboard at a 45 as close as i could get to the floor line and put a quarter round at reinstall to cover up the cut.

bjbatlanta · 08-29-2009, 09:46 AM

You could use a "multi tool" or undercut saw (sometimes called a jamb saw) to cut the bae flush with the floor. HD or Lowes both sell them. Harbor Freight has a cheap version of the multi saw for about $35.00 I believe that would likely suit your purposes. The Dremel brand is around $100.00 and HD used to carry a jamb saw (in the flooring dept.) for under $100.00 if memory serves. I bought one several years ago and it seems like it was in the $70.00 range. Not sure though. The multi tool has a lot of other uses so it may be worth buying a better quality one....