R.M., Medford

A. Yes and no. First, check to see whether there is a quarter-round molding at the bottom of the baseboard. If there is one, the carpeting might be covering it, and it would be iffy to remove that first, but you do have to remove it to get to the baseboard.

Whether there is a quarter-round or not, you still might run into a problem, because some baseboards are applied to the wall before a hardwood floor is installed. If that is the case, it is a traumatic experience trying to get it out because it won't just pry off easily, mainly because it is nailed at the bottom as well as at the top, and, nailed at the bottom, it just won't budge. I've tried it a few times (as few as possible), and in at least one case I had to split the baseboard in order to get it out.

But all you can do is try. When prying, be careful to set your prying tool against the wall where a stud is; if you try prying against the plasterboard or plaster, you will make an instant hole or dent in the wall. One way to avoid this is to put a thin board against the wall just above the baseboard; use this board as a fulcrum to prevent punching holes in the wall. Once the old is removed, it is easy to put in a new one, but make sure you drive nails through the baseboard and into studs.