How to Remove Trim Applied With Wood Glue

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Things You'll Need

  • Sharp utility knife

  • Spray bottle

  • Distilled white vinegar

  • Pry bar

  • Hammer

  • Sharp paint scraper

  • 80-grit sandpaper

After removing wood baseboard, chair rail, window or door casing trim that has been secured with wood glue, you might wonder why you ever thought wood glue was a good idea. Wood glue is a solvent-resistant, strong, permanent glue that should be used sparingly and in wood-to-wood applications only. Removing wood trim that has been glued to plaster or drywall with wood glue requires a few extra steps, but it is not impossible.

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Step 1

Score the seam between the trim and the wall with a sharp utility knife. Apply light pressure to the knife to cut through any dried paint or silicone and into the paper face of the drywall.

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Step 2

Fill a small spray bottle with distilled white vinegar and spray the vinegar into the opened seam to loosen the wood glue. Work on a small section of wood trim at a time and allow the vinegar to work for 15 minutes before continuing.

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Step 3

Place a pry bar into the seam between the trim and the wall and press it behind the trim by hammering the handle end of the pry bar with a hammer.

Step 4

Apply downward pressure on the pry bar to pry the trim away from the wall.

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Step 5

Continue the saturation with vinegar and prying actions until all of the trim has been removed.

Step 6

Remove the wood glue from the walls and trim by placing a sharp paint scraper against the glue and scraping away the remaining glue.

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Step 7

Sand the walls and the back of the trim with an 80-grit sandpaper to smooth their surfaces before reinstalling the trim with brads or countersunk screws.

Tip

Letting De Glue Goo Wood Glue Remover sit on the trim until the old glue is thoroughly softened helps with scraping off the glue.

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