When laying down laminate flooring, it's not always essential to remove skirting boards. However, it can depend on what type of flooring is currently down and how your house was built. Doing this at regular intervals along the wall (approx. 6 inches) will help to loosen the board as much as possible. The choice hinges on the paint’s characteristics and the wood’s condition. Every method mandates specific tools and materials, underscoring the importance of preparation. In some cases Skirting boards will be screwed. In this case you need to determine what type of wall it is fixed too, as this will affect the way you remove the boards. This can be a time-consuming job. Therefore, it’s quite common to just break the board and replace them. It will save time and sometimes it is just the easier option.

Next, take a Stanley knife and run it along the edges of the skirting board to break the sealant holding the board in place -skirting boards are usually glued to the wall. This step is important as it helps prevent damage to the plastering of the wall. It also makes removing the skirting boards a lot easier! You can also use the crowbar or the chisel if you prefer to gently start loosening up the board. If you’re wondering how to remove the architraves too, it’s pretty similar -it’s a good idea to run your knife down the inside edge of the sealant. Because removing old skirting boards requires some elbow grease and force, you’re at risk of inadvertently causing damage to these cables and pipes. Occasionally, especially for older skirting boards like those in period homes, your skirting board may be fitted to the wall with large nails. If so, remove the skirting board’s nails or screws. We often get asked if skirting boards can be cut whilst they're in place. This would be ideal if you only needed to remove a small section of skirting.Are you worried that sanding your skirting boards may leave some gouges and swirl marks behind? This orbit sander prevents this with its power control systems. All sorts of hazards can be left behind when carrying out this type of work and cleaning the area can prevent possible accidents. Similarly, if your skirting boards have suffered at the hands of termites (see sad skirting board below) or are covered in decades of paint (potentially lead-based), you should remove your old skirting boards for new ones.

If you’re upgrading your home decor for a modern look or ripping out worn and rotten skirting boards, this how-to guide is for you. Tools required for removing skirting boards It's possible that once you've removed all the skirting, some of the nails (or pins) may have been left in the walls. If this is the case, you will need your pliers ready to remove them. You can set it at six different speed settings. This orbit sander also reduces vibration. Its bearing system can decrease it by around 25%. It makes this tool very smooth to use. ProsFollowing this, take your crowbar or a chisel and place it on the joint where the board meets the wall. Next gently hit with your hammer to separate the board from the wall. Do this in a few places to create a small gap behind the skirting. Now that you've read our guide, you should be confident enough to go ahead and remove the skirting! With that being said, now we'll answer some common questions in relation to the process. Why Would You Need To Remove Skirting Boards? We recommend getting your hands on quality tools. It might cost you a little extra, but the benefits justify this. Better tools will make easy work of the job in hand and also last longer than the cheaper alternatives (future DIY projects await you!).

For really stubborn nails use an angle grinder or multi-tool to cut the nail tight against the skirting. Removing a skirting board is a pretty simple task. However, you need to know how to remove skirting boards correctly, or you can damage the surrounding walls, cables and pipes. Insert the crowbar carefully between the wall or floor and skirting board, and gently pull away from the wall. Continue this step all along the wall at 6-10 inch intervals until the skirting has been detached. Its design ensures that you can sand all the edges and corners well. It gives a smoother finish to your skirting boards. An electric sander is the best choice for your skirting boards. It works efficiently to give you the best results. You can get a smoother finish with its help. Moreover, it makes your task almost effortless and saves you a lot of time.Its design comes in an iron shape. It makes sure to send all the edges and corners closely. You can also access all the harder areas with this multi-sander. It is efficient for skirting boards. But if the skirting boards have been damaged and need a lot of repair – which can be time-consuming – then it's best to replace them. However, if they are an original feature in an old house they might be hard to replace so you will need to put in the time and effort to fix.

It also breaks the seal created by decorators caulk between the wall and the board. This is almost always used when decorating to create a clean finish and fill any small gaps that may be present and look unsightly. Either try to unscrew them with a screwdriver or break through the moulding with a drill and chisel before using a claw hammer to pull out the nails from the wall. You'll likely find that the existing skirting will have been nailed, screwed or glued (or a combination of these methods may have been used) to the wall.

We'll make this job easy for you by providing information on tools required and keeping your walls safe from harm. Alternate Tool: A plastic scraper or knife can be a substitute if a metal scraper is unavailable or seems too abrasive. However, it might not be as efficient and could leave behind some paint particles.