You might want to take the drywall out of your house for a few reasons. You could be renovating your home and wishing to remove internal walls or install an air conditioning duct, or you might just be repairing a small section of the damaged wall.
With a few standard tools, removing drywall sheeting is a task that a competent DIYer can complete. Here are the tools, equipment, and steps you need to go through to remove drywall sheeting:
- A dust mask will protect you from the debris.
- You’ll need a utility knife to cut through the drywall.
- A drywall saw will make cleaner cuts than a utility knife.
- A hammer with a claw can be used to remove nails.
- A prybar will help you remove moulding.
- A stud finder will help you avoid hitting electrical wires.
- Masking tape will help you create clean lines.
- A strong magnet can be used to hold screws in place.
- A drill with screwdriver bits will help you drive screws into the wall.
If you need to remove drywall from your home, it’s not as difficult as you think. Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll have it removed.
1. Turn Off All Utilities
Before removing any drywall, it’s essential to turn off all utilities that may be located inside the wall cavity. A good stud finder can help you determine what is behind the wall.
2. Prepare the Room
Removing drywall sheeting can create a lot of dust, which can settle on furniture, windowsills, and walls. To avoid spending hours cleaning up, take some precautions to keep the dust from spreading.
To make cleaning quicker and more accessible, it’s best to prepare the room before you start. Remove any furniture that isn’t needed and try to isolate the workspace by closing doors and windows.
If you can’t move your furniture, you can cover it with plastic drop sheets to keep drywall dust from settling on it. The size of your project will determine how much preparation you’ll need to do.
3. Start Removing the Plasterboard Sheets
The stud finder will help you locate utilities and areas that require extra caution. Use masking tape to mark these areas. You may need to remove skirting boards, baseboards, window moulding, and cornices – anything attached in front of the drywall sheeting – depending on the scope of your project.
Use the utility knife to cut the drywall tape along the edges of the section of drywall you want to remove. This wall will have corner sections and possibly sections where the ceiling and wall meet, plus sections where individual sheets of wallpaper join. If you can’t figure out where pieces of drywall fit together, just cut the drywall tape when you find the seam.
Afterward, use the drill and screwdriver bits to remove screws if they have been used. Find the screws with the magnet and drill, and take them out. Unscrew all the screws from the sheet or section you want to remove.
Start at one end of the drywall sheet, and pry it up gradually with a prybar. Work your way across the sheet until it is completely removed. To remove the drywall, start by breaking it into manageable pieces. Then, use a saw to cut around the section you want to remove.
Remove any nails left in the timber framework. Use a claw hook hammer or pry bar to remove the pins.
Conclusion
Removing drywall sheeting can be tricky, and you must know the dangers involved. Use the right tools and precautions, and you should be able to remove drywall sheeting easily.
After finishing your wall removal, the next step is to fix any issues you uncovered when you removed the drywall. Locate the cause of the leak and repair it. If you find any damage to the timber framework, repair or replace it.
For extra assistance removing and reinstalling a dry wall in your home, feel free to contact We Plaster & Recruit. Our team has full licenses to provide plastering services throughout Brisbane, Gold Coast and Queensland. Simply contact us today, and we would be glad to lend a hand with home plastering projects.