Pull and Mark Your Wall Trim!
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Reduce the hassle, get the job done! Another DIY tip from Must Own Tools.
Must Own Tools With a Tip To Pull and Mark Your Wall Trim
To make your flooring job easier, purchase a wall trim puller! Pull the trim easily and minimize the chances of breakage with a top notch trim puller. Simple, easy to use, and affordable a trim puller makes quick work of pulling your wall trim in preparation for laying a new floor.
What you Need!
The items you will need:
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A Trim puller tool
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A rubber mallett
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Crayon, Marker, Pen or Pencil to mark the back of the trim, and the wall so you know where to reinstall the trim.
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Wood putty, and paint to repair the trim before reinstalling, after the new floor is installed.
Avoid the Anxiety Bull!
Minimize breakage, avoid cracks in the wall and easily remove the trim from your wall. Your trim will be available for re-painting and can easily be reinstalled after your floor is installed.
How to use your Trim Puller?
1) Locate the right trimmer for your trim removal job
2) Use a knife or razor blade to score any paint build up
3) Place the sharp edge of the trim puller where the trim meets the wall
4) Gently tap the top of the trim puller with your rubber mallett
5) Once the trim puller and its middle blade is behind the trim, gently and slowly pull the trim remover handle up and until the trim and nails start to come out
6) Continue to move the trim puller up and down the trim until you have pulled the trim totally off
7) Be sure to carefully remove all of the nails to avoid damage to your wall or trim. Making sure all of the nails are removed will also avoid injury - sharp nails are not friendly to toes and feet.
For easy, no confusion reinstallation, mark the trim and the wall.
Must Own Tools believes in Repairing, Repurposing and Recycling materials from your DIY job. Instead of throwing out old wall trim, freshen it with new paint, maybe a little wood putty. Once the trim is refreshed, reinstall the trim with a brad nailer or hammer and finishing nails.
Marking the trim and corresponding wall location, makes installation fast and easy.
Must Own Tools Hand Tools
Need help with picking the right wrench, screwdriver, pliers or hand saw for your DIY job? Must Own Tools has a selection of tools, where to purchase them and our Blog Articles can help you learn how to use them.
Wall Trim DIY Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use a Putty Knife or screwdriver to pull trim?
- Why do you recommend a rubber mallett?
- Should I reuse or buy new trim?
- Should I reuse the nails or get new nails?
We have found that screwdrivers will damage the trim or wall board. Putty knives might work but they are not thick enough to pull out nails or brads. The putty knife will bend and potentially damage the trim or wall board.
Spend a few bucks and get a wall trim puller, they won't put holes in the wall, damage the trim and eliminate the frustration and aggravation that comes with using the wrong tool.
Rubber Malletts vs. Steel headed hammers
Because Rubber Malletts have soft heads the potential for wall damage is diminished if you accidentally hit the wall. Also, there is more control and less force on the trim puller.
Reuse vs. New Trim
If the trim is not damaged beyond repair bring your trim back to life with a fresh coat of paint and wood putty.
Once the trim is removed, mark the back of the trim and the wall - a number system works great - so when it is time to re-install the trim, you know where each piece goes.
NOTE: Be sure to place your mark on the back of the trim and on the wall that will be covered up when the trim is reinstalled.
Definitely new nails or brads. If the job is big enough and your budget allows, we suggest purchasing a battery powered brad nailer from your favorite big box, hardware or specialty store. They make the job much easier, faster and do not leave hammer dents in your trim.
