How easy is it to remove skirting boards?

[CoolShoeshine]

Really want to replace old carpet with wood flooring in living room. I’m pretty sure that for this we would need to remove all the skirtings. Would we need to get a carpenter or handyman to do this or could an enthusiastic diy’er do it? It doesn’t matter if the skirtings get ruined they are only basic but I don’t want to ruin the walls.

We didn't remove our skirting boards. Had carpet in lounge when we bought the house then fancied a change and went for laminate. Got someone in to do it and he laid this wooden edging round edge right up to original skirting boards. Looks great, trust me. I've actually never seen any laminated room with no skirting, can't quite imagine what that would look like but obv there must be lots if you think it's more usual to have none.

It’s easy with a crowbar and you get a better finish without beading. DH did it, amateur diy person.

We had ours removed recently before we had the house replastered and it didn’t damage the walls too much at all.

Can be done with a crowbar.

Depends on how attached to the wall they are. Maybe try running a Stanley knife down the top of the boards first so they don't pull the wallpaper off.

There’s probably a YouTube video !

If you use real wood then you do need to remove skirting boards to give it a chance to breathe.

If you go for LVT then they can lay the floor right up to the skirting anyway.

Polyflor is what we have.

Not long replaced ours after lifting carpets and putting down wooden flooring. I hate the beading usually fitted between laminate and skirting.

Took the corner bottom plate thing (no idea what it's called, the bit at the bottom of the door facing where the skirting joins) and went in from behind them. Did it myself in a couple of lunch breaks while WFH with a hammer and screwdriver -because I'm impatient!

Popped off easily enough, couple of awkward bits behind the radiator pipes but nothing major. Minor damage to the plaster, but the new skirtings were taller so covered any bits I'd been too heavy handed on.

Replaced with PVC skirting - absolute dream to clean!