Our first project in the new house was to remove the various moulding from the walls. We removed the picture frame moulding from the entryway, dining nook, living room, and primary bedroom. Batten board from the office and mudroom. And finally, chair rail moulding from the dining room. While I love wall moulding, it wasn't working in our house. The moulding made the home look dated and in need of modernization. So off with the moulding!
The following Interior photos of the home were borrowed from the listing posted on Zillow.com showing the moulding before we removed it.
If you're thinking about removing wall moulding, I will forewarn you that it's a process and one you'll have to be patient with. Sometimes, the moulding comes off easily with minor damage, and other times, it doesn't. We realized that walls with many layers of paint were more challenging. As you can see in the below photos, some of our drywall was completely removed, which made resurfacing those areas a lot of work.
Planning for Success
If you're thinking about removing wall moulding, I will forewarn you that it's a process and one you'll have to be patient with. Sometimes, the moulding comes off easily with minor damage, and other times, it doesn't. We realized that walls with many layers of paint were more challenging.
Tools and Materials
- Utility knife
- Putty knife
- Pry bar
- Hammer
- Caulk remover (if needed)
- Drop cloth
Step-by-Step Guide
- Score the caulk or paint. If the moulding isn't caulked, as in our case, you will still want to score the paint from where the wall and the moulding meet. This will make it easier to pry the moulding off the wall. Tip: If the moulding is painted, you may be able to remove it by heating the paint with a heat gun or hairdryer and then scraping it off with a putty knife.
- Pry moulding off the wall. Pry the moulding off the wall using a pry bar, starting at one end, and work your way along the length of the moulding. Try your best not to pry too much into the wall as you could damage the wall, causing more resurfacing work for yourself. If the moulding is difficult to remove, gently tap the pry bar with a hammer.
- Remove nails and stables. Once the moulding is off the wall, remove any nails or staples holding it in place. You can use a nail puller or a pliers to do this.
- Remove any remaining caulk or debris with a putty knife.
- Clean the wall. Use a damp cloth to clean the wall where the moulding was attached.
Be patient! Removing moulding can be a time-consuming process. Take your time, and don't rush. Done with care and attention, you can safely remove the moulding from your walls with minor damage to the wall and the moulding itself.
Disclaimer: I am not a professional, and this blog post is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. If you need help with how to remove moulding from your walls, please call a professional.
