skirting

[carndonagh]

what is best way to take off old skirting boards .

[vehelpfulguy]

Not sure if it is the right way, but I have already used a hammer and small crowbar.

Hammer the "crowbar" between the top of the skirting board and the wall and gradually lever it off. You need to move back and forward along the wall, doing it a bit at a time.

There are some places on the web that explain how to do it, here is one

http://www.diy-diary.co.uk/removing-skirting.s html

Search on "removing skirting board" for others.

[vehelpfulguy]

Think carefully before you do this.

If you plan to put the old skirting board back on it is often difficult to remove the old ones without breaking them.

And putting new skirting boards on is not as easy as you think (I have never found it easy anyway)

[buildersmate]

Agree with above comments.
Most old boards are attached by large nails (square section brads) that are thumped into the brick / blockwork.
Old boards will split on removal. Keep an old section to help find a replacement section (if fancy shape). Probably least hassle to replace using gluing using Gripfill or similar - gap filling adhesive - then fill the gap at top with decorators' filler or similar before painting.

[rccatnap]

If all you want to do is remove the old boards and replace with new ones, then vehelpfulguy's link is fine, though I would add that it may be useful to insert a piece of 1/8 " plywood between the crowbar and the wall to minimise any damage to the plaster. I agree with him, that it's not always as straightfoward as it might seem, because until you've removed the boards, you don't know what you're letting yourself in for.
Normally, one would use cut (floorboard) nails to fix the new boards and drive the heads just below the surface of the boards, using a punch. The small depressions can then be filled and sanded to provide a nice flat surface to paint over.
If you feel that nailing the boards is not an option, then there are plenty of suitable adhesives, usually applied with a sealant-gun, that would do the trick. This is only good if the plaster is sound. Check with B & Q.
Good luck with it.

[StevieBoy]

There are some mini crowbars, the good ones are by "Estwing" (Same company that do the hammers) (prob about 10 quid) they are about 4cm wide and slim as. Perfect for that use.
Use one of those with a piece of spare timber to lever with.

[Clanad]

Here in the U.S. a "crowbar" would mean a rather large tool that may not work really well in your endeavor. Rather, we use a cat's paw, but regardless of the name it looks like this: http://item.express.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ExpressItem&item=290239288070&FROM_MERCHANDISI NG=1&mode=0&placeid=5 ...
Additionally, if you are successful in removing the skirting (we call it mop board) and want to re-use them but they may still have some nails remaining, remove the nails by pulling the through from the back of the board rather than trying to get them out from the face or front side. A good pair of vice grip pliers will do the job nicely and won't split the boards. The remaining nail holes can easily be filled and restinaed or painted...
Best of luck!