There are plenty of jobs that are DIY friendly during renovations and commercial fit outs. Removing skirting boards is one of those tasks! If you’ve got a steady hand and enough patience, you can remove old skirting boards without damaging the plaster on your walls. In this article we’ll go over how to remove skirting boards without damaging plaster to help kickstart your next project.
The Tools You’ll Need
Skirting boards are typically nailed directly into the plasterboard using finishing nails. These fine-gauge nails are difficult to see and relatively easy to remove. If you want to repair, replace or simply remove skirting boards from your walls, you’ll only need a few tools:
- Utility knife
- Flat crowbar or pry bar
- Hammer
- Utility knife
- A scrap block of wood
- Pliers
How to Remove Skirting Boards Without Damaging Plaster
Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to removing skirting boards without damaging plaster. A simple renovation job can turn into a serious hassle if you cause unnecessary damage that needs to be repaired later. As long as you take your time, removing skirting boards is a simple process:
- Check for cables. Some properties hide electrical or data cables by running them along the top of skirting boards. Before you get started, check the skirting boards you’re removing for any visible cables. These cables are usually fixed to the wall with plastic clips and can be removed easily while you work.
- Break the seal along the skirting board. Take a sharp utility knife and run the tip along the top edge of the skirting board where it joins the wall. Apply moderate pressure, but not enough to crush the plasterboard.
Paint tends to collect in this gap, and you may peel off large chunks of paint if you don’t make a cut along the top of the skirting board. Some installers also use silicone caulk and other fillers to conceal gaps between the skirting and the wall, which will also need to be cut. - Loosen the skirting from the wall. This is often the tricky part. Using a flat crowbar, find a section of skirting board that is slightly loose or that has a gap between the wall and the trim. The weakest parts are usually near an edge or corner.
Place the flat of your pry bar against the wall and use the hammer to gently knock it in behind the skirting board. If the crowbar won’t slide behind the skirting board then try another spot. Be patient here – it’s easy to damage plasterboard with a crowbar if you are hammering too hard. Once the skirting boards are starting to lift off the wall in one area, work your way along the board and repeat the process. This should create a small gap all the way along the skirting board. - Pry the skirting board away. Now take your scrap block of wood and place it flat against the wall behind your crowbar. This gives you a safe object to lever against. The block of wood will spread the load and allow you to remove the skirting board without damaging the plaster. Work your way along the wall until you have pried the skirting board off completely.
- Remove the remaining nails. The finish nails used to secure skirting boards sometimes remain stuck in the wall. These can be pulled out gently using pliers. Stubborn nails can be driven into the wall using your hammer. Be careful not to bend any nails over. Bent nails may prevent your new skirting boards from sitting flat against the wall.
Repairing Any Damaged Plaster
Plaster is brittle and easy to damage. As hard as you try not to, you’re likely to cause a little bit of damage when removing skirting boards.
Once you have the skirting removed, clean and dry the wall to remove any dust. Then use plaster filler and sandpaper to smooth out any dents or tears left by the crowbar. Don’t worry about repairing plaster that will be hidden by your new skirting boards. These areas won’t be seen, and plaster filler doesn’t provide any strength for the nails that will be driven through the new skirting. If there are any hidden areas with serious damage, you may need to replace a small section of the plasterboard.
Update the Look and Feel of Your Property with Sydney Metro Plastering!
Skirting boards are a subtle feature that can add depth and detail to any space. Whether you’re renovating, building a house or simply updating your home, changing the skirting boards can go a long way to achieving the aesthetic you want. Removing and replacing skirting boards without damaging the plaster can take a bit of practice, and that’s where Sydney Metro Plastering comes in! Sydney Metro Plastering does commercial plastering Sydney wide. Our skilled team has the tools and experience to update all residential and commercial properties from soundproof ceiling installation to ceiling repairs Sydney wide. We can make sure your skirting boards are removed without unnecessary damage. Contact us today to find out more or to book a quote!