We've all seen those remodeling TV shows. In the show, a huge sledgehammer is slammed into a wall to remove the drywall. Do not try this at home. Not only does it make a huge mess; you could also be slamming into pipes or electric wire. There are cleaner and easier ways to remove drywall, here are a few tips to help.
Instructions
1. Prepare for drywall dust first. Close open cabinets and closets, move furniture and knick-knacks or cover them with plastic. Close the windows and shut off fans to minimize the dust. Turn off the heat or air conditioning if possible. If not, then close the vent to the room you'll be working in to reduce the drywall dust drifting into other rooms.
2. Remove all the trim that surrounds the drywall. You'll probably need to remove the baseboard at the floor. You may also need to remove crown molding or chair rails. If the wall is part of a door or window, remove the trim.
3. Use a thin pry bar that is easy to handle. Start at the edge of the wall or where the trim has been removed. Place the pry bar just above a nail and gently pull the drywall towards you. Move the pry bar to just below the nail and pull the drywall towards you. Repeat at each nail section on the same edge. After the drywall is somewhat loosened, pry the nails out. Most pry bars have a slot for pulling nails. If your pry bar doesn't have this slot, use the claw section of a hammer. Remove as many nails out of the drywall as possible.
4. Tap on the back side of the drywall with a hammer if possible. This will help to loosen the drywall without breaking into small pieces. Remove the large pieces of drywall and set away from where you are working. Once the large pieces of drywall are removed, the smaller pieces next to the nails are easier to reach.
5. Break a small hole into the drywall if you can't access the back side of it. Make a small hole with the hammer close to the edge of the drywall but away from the nails. After you've made the small hole, insert your hand and hammer into the back of the drywall. Tap on the back side of the drywall to remove it.
6. Remove all the nails that remain on the wall studs after you've removed the drywall. Use the slotted end of the pry bar or the claw end of a hammer to remove the nails. Dispose the old nails in a covered jar and remove the drywall from the house to reduce the dust.
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