Remove Crown Molding from Your Home the Easy Way
Assemble the necessary tools:
Utility knife – to score the wall paint or wall paper
Flatbar – to gently separate the crown molding
Spacers – to place between the crown molding and the wall
Prybar – to pry the crown molding away
Putty knife – to keep dents and damaging away
Reciprocating saw – to cut if required
Drill – to drive the nails into the wall if required
Adhesive remover – to remove glued crown molding
Safety glasses – to protect your eyes
Settle on the approach:
Depending on the material of your crown molding and the manner in which it has been installed, you might need to modify or embellish the following steps to remove the crown molding. It may be a good idea to also check with your local Home Depot or Lowes for additional tips of handling this project.
Most often the material used for the crown molding is wood. But it can also be made of plastic or fiberglass. Usually it is nailed to the wall and ceiling. Occasionally, an adhesive may be used to hold the crown molding.
Plastic may be easy to cut through but wood and fiberglass are best removed by prying them out of the wall or ceiling if they are nailed. Also if you want to save and reuse the removed trim, irrespective of the material, you have to pry it out carefully.
Tips for your project:
Here the steps to pry out the crown molding:
-First score the paint with the utility knife.
-Use the flatbar to separate the crown molding gently so that it is loosened a little bit.
-Place the spacers between the crown molding and the wall to make it easier to pry out the crown molding.
-Gently hammer the putty knife gently between the crown molding and the wall.
-Use the prybar to pry out the crown molding with the putty knife shielding the surface from denting and prying marks. Pry out in different directions until it comes loose.
-Have someone hold the removed end of the crown molding as you work on loosening the entire strip. That way the strip will not break and may be reused if you wish.
Once you get one piece or strip of the crown molding removed, it gets easier to remove the rest. The prybar which is the main tool costs less than $5.00 and is available at Home Depot or Lowes.
If there are stubborn nails that cannot be removed without damaging the wall, consider the following options:
-Use the reciprocating saw to cut the nail and separate the fixture from the wall.
-Drill the nail all the way through the crown molding into the wall if it is hard to cut with the saw. Spackle the wall or ceiling to cover up.
If having to deal with adhesive, use the saw to cut pieces of the crown molding out. Use the adhesive-remover to get rid remaining pieces and glue-marks.
Safety tips:
Wear your safety glasses to keep bits and pieces from flying into your eyes. Use plenty of rag clothes or papers to line up beneath the area you plan to work on so that the fine dust is easy to collect and clean. When disposing out the removed crown molding handle the nails with care.
