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Want to know how to replace baseboards? I did too! I wasn’t quite sure I could do it myself, but I did! And you can too!
We downsized recently, and I have been going through the house repainting all of the trim….. ALL of the TRIM! It has been a huge undertaking, but I am happy to report that it is all finished! In case you missed my downsizing series, here are a few links: Downsizing, Part 2, Redesigning the Master Closet, Pantry Makeover, and Grout Can be Painted.
I will be posting more of the renovations going forward. So subscribe to my email list if you want to see more of our DIY projects.
I was so exhausted from working on the house for so long that I didn’t want to even write about it. But, I knew it was something I needed to do, and many of my readers have been anxiously awaiting to see the results.
As I was working through my upstairs bathroom, I discovered that the linen closet baseboards were very disgusting. I mean, look at them. I knew right then that I had to figure out how to replace baseboards! And, I wanted to do it myself.
Of course, I completely forgot to take the picture before I pulled them off. I was just so darn eager to get them out! So, for the photos above, I simply laid the baseboards back in to take the “before” picture.
Tools Needed for Replacing the Baseboards
You will need a box cutter, razor scraper, pry bar, hammer, caulk, paint, and a pencil.
Use the box cutter to carefully cut along the top edge of the baseboard to separate it from the wall. If you don’t do this, the caulk will pull off the drywall paper! And that folks, will take this project into a whole other dimension we want to avoid.
Remember, this project is replacing the baseboards, not replacing the drywall!
Once the baseboard is separated, use the pry bar to gently pull the baseboard away from the wall. Gently, again, we don’t want to have to repair the drywall. Patience and gentleness are key for this project. When it is removed, it will look like it does in the photo below. There is a slight gap between the drywall and the tile. And, lots of dried up caulk on the wall. After removing the baseboards, scrape off the old caulking with a razor scraper to have a nice clean wall to work with.
Make Sure To Label Each Baseboard
Once I had them out, I labeled them “left”, “right”, and “middle”. Then, headed to Home Depot. Having the original baseboards helped to find the right type, and to cut them to the exact size I needed. Picking out the matching baseboards was the easy part. Cutting them, was a little tougher.
Since the baseboards come in 12-foot lengths, I had a bit of a struggle getting them onto the miter cutter at Home Depot. However, when it was in place and marked, cutting the board just took a little muscle. After each board was cut, I labeled the back to match the old boards for easy placement.
Here is how they look set in place before nailing them in permanently.
Nailing was the Hardest Part of this Project
I thought attaching the baseboards would be a BREEZE! I was so WRONG! My hubby wanted to help me do it, but I wanted to do it all by myself. What I learned is that when you nail in baseboards, the nail has to go in at a downward angle, not straight on. This is where a nice air nailer would be great! And, we do have one, but again…. this was all about me conquering this project alone. So, it took me a little, ok…. a lot of time to get them fully attached. But in the end, I was so happy with the results.
Caulk is My New Best Friend
Caulking is easier than many people think – including my hubby! I am the official “caulker” in our house. (is that even a word?). And is mandatory to use when you are replacing the baseboards. It gives them a more polished finish, in addition to covering up minor mistakes!
All it takes is a little patience, and easy-to-use caulk, and some Clorox Wipes. Yes, they work the best for getting that goop off of your fingers. And, make it easier to clean up the extra caulk.
What I like about using these, is that there is no CAULK Gun needed! I don’t know about you, but when I use a caulk gun, it gets caulk everywhere except where I need it. So, I use these and I add the caulk to the seams. Then, I wait a few minutes (about 2-3) and use my finger to smooth it out and make a nice seal.
Another tip, I don’t use the tip end when I use the Alex Fast Dry Caulk. It is too hard to squeeze the caulk out. Instead, I cut off the end and It makes it much easier to work with. When I am done, I wrap it with cellophane and place it in a plastic ziplock bag.
Look how much better they look with all of the gaps filled in!
Don’t worry, I cleaned them up a little better before I painted them. Here is the final result!
Just a reminder, here is the before and after, side by side:
If I Can Do it - So Can YOU
Saving money by doing things yourself feels great! And, knowing that you have turned something ugly into something beautiful is even better! All of this was only $9!! Of course, I had the nails, tools, caulk, and paint already. So, maybe a little more. But once you build up your supply cabinet doing the various DIY projects around the house, you can pretty much tackle anything!
Never in my wildest thoughts did I think I was capable of replacing the baseboards by myself! I hope this has inspired you to conquer your fears about doing this on your own. Let me know if you try this or if you have any other questions.
Enjoy,
