It is important to know how to remove drywall without damaging it. Drywall is made of paper and gypsum, and thus, it is very fragile. Drywalls may need to be removed and replaced in sections to repair damage.
When removing a section of the drywall, you should pay attention to not damage the rest of the wall.
A few simple tricks can help you to remove drywall without damaging it. Knowing these can make the task of unexpected drywall repair quick and cost-saving. This is a compilation of all you need to do, step by step, to remove a drywall without damaging it. You will also learn how to remove and replace drywall safely.
How to Remove Drywall without Damaging It
Whether you are removing an entire sheet or a section of the drywall, removal without damage should be a priority.
When removing a section, it is important to not damage the rest of the drywall. For removing whole sheets of drywall, doing so without damage will make the sheets reusable.
You will need simple tools like measurement tape, magnet and a claw hammer to remove a drywall yourself. Follow the mentioned steps:
Step 1: Measure and Mark the Section
The first step is to mark the section you want to remove. For removing a drywall, you should always remove the part nailed to the nearest frame. This is because you will need to nail the new sheet of drywall to the framing.
Step 2: Locate the Studs Nails
You can use a stud finder to locate the studs. If it is not available, you can locate the nails on the stud with a magnet.
Mark the spots where the nails are with a sharpie. This will help you to know which parts to avoid when cutting the drywall. Make sure you have marked the lines on the drywall a few inches outside of the nails. This will ensure safety from accidents.
Running a grinder or any other cutting tool through a nail will cause accidents, and even a fire in some cases.
Step 3: Cut with an Angle Grinder
Use an angle grinder to cut through the drywall. You should make sure to run the grinder exactly over the marked line for a clean cut.
Using an angle grinder will make the process quick, easy and free of any mess. However, it is not a must.
You can use any utility knife to cut the drywall. In such a case, use masking tape over the line you marked on the wall. Cutting the drywall through the masking tape will create a clean cut which you will not need to sand down.
Step 4: Claw out the Nails
So it is important to claw out the nails from the drywall before cutting it. Use a claw hammer and a flat bar to pry out each individual nail that is holding the drywall together with the framing. The same procedure is done for nails that were put using a framing crew with an air compressor.
This will completely remove the drywall in a clean manner with no damage.
Removing Tiles from Drywall
The tiles in the bathroom, or the backsplash tiles in the kitchen are usually attached to the drywall with a joint compound.
This joint compound works as a bonding element to glue the tiles to the drywall. So to remove tile from drywall without damaging it can prove to be a tricky task.
You can slowly and gently chisel out each single tile with a wide blade putty knife and a hammer. There may still be some damages to be repaired on the drywall. To remove a backsplash tile without damaging the drywall, you will need a lot of time and patience. If there is an underlayment behind the tiles, the work can be easier.
Safety Measures while Removing Drywall
Removing drywall requires some safety measures to protect you from accidents. Because the task requires simple yet sharp tools. It is important to be careful to avoid any wounds. Drywall dust is also bad for your lungs.
Follow the safety measures as mentioned.
Wear a Drywall Respirator
When cutting a drywall, the dust will flow through the air and into your lungs. It is important to cover your nose and mouth. For this purpose, you can purchase Drywall Respirator masks designed to stop you from inhaling drywall dust.
Vacuum as You Go
To minimize the dust flow, you can vacuum the wall as you cut it. Hold the extension wand of your vacuum cleaner a few inches away from the cutting tool. By holding it under the cutter, the vacuum will catch all the drywall dust without spilling in the air.
Use Safe Cutting Tools
Although the cutting tools required for removing drywall are very simple, it can cause accidents. Do not use cutting tools you are not familiar with as they can wound you.
FAQs
How do you remove drywall cleanly?
The cleanest way to remove a drywall is to use a suitable 6” angle grinder. Their sharp saw blades will make clean cuts through the drywall with minimal dusts. Hold the extension wand of the vacuum cleaner a few inches behind the grinder as you cut the wall.
How do you remove drywall dust from walls?
The neighboring drywalls will tend to attract the drywall you are removing because of the gypsum. The best method is to hold the vacuum behind the cutter to catch the dust straight from the wall as you cut it. Any remnants from the walls have to be sanded down.
Is drywall dust harmful?
Yes. Drywall is made of gypsum. So, drywall dust is just gypsum dust which can cause symptoms like asthma including breathing difficulties, persistent irritation in throat and airway, coughing, etc.
Conclusion
With the help of all the details, removing the drywall without damage can be an easy task. No matter how simple the task is, you need to be patient and careful. This is slow work. Besides, it is important to stay safe as well. The drywall is made of gypsum compound sandwiched between paper sheets. The drywall dust, therefore, is just the dust of gypsum. Inhaling the dust is harmful for health. We recommend anyone with respiratory issues to avoid working with drywall.
Using simple tools and some time, you can remove a drywall after learning how to remove drywall without damaging it.
