
and Reuse It Too!
- Cut It Out. Start by marking out the area you want to remove and cut the drywall. ...
- Hunting Down Nails. Use a strong magnet like the ones found in an old computer hard disk drive to locate all the nails that hold the drywall to ...
- Rip the Nails Out. Now use a small pry bar and hammer to remove each nail. ...
- Gently Remove the Drywall Without Crashing It on Your Head. ...
- Then Just a Simple Clean Up. This is the only mess to clean up. So much easier than cleaning up all the debris and dust from demolition.
- Step 1: Cut It Out. Start by marking out the area you want to remove and cut the drywall. ...
- Step 2: Hunting Down Nails. ...
- Step 3: Rip the Nails Out. ...
- Step 4: Gently Remove the Drywall Without Crashing It on Your Head. ...
- Step 5: Then Just a Simple Clean Up.
How do you remove old drywall without damaging it?
For unsoiled drywall, use a pry bar to begin prying the bottom of the panel away from these studs, allowing removal of the entire sheet. Pushing the short end of the flat bar up under the bottom of the panel allows for using the long end as a lever, making the initial prying easy. Continue prying the side of the section loose.
How can I reuse or recycle old drywall?
You can also re-purpose drywall by peeling off the paper—just start at one corner and pull: it comes off pretty easily—and crushing the gypsum back into powder form. Then spread it on your garden or lawn.
How do I remove the drywall screws from the wall?
Drywall screws can sometimes be removed with a Philips-head screwdriver, but depending on the condition of the wall, this may be more hassle than it's worth. Look at the screws and the condition of the drywall itself.
What equipment do you need to remove old drywall?
A simple dust mask (or a respirator mask if the drywall is old enough to potentially contain lead paint or asbestos) is a must. Eye protection is also helpful. Start by removing any obstacles that will get in the way of the drywall removal.

Can you take down drywall and reuse it?
No matter how careful you are when removing drywall from a wall or ceiling, it will never be in "as new" condition. You may be able salvage it for reuse, however, if you are systematic in your approach, and your success will depend on how it is attached and whether it has been taped.
How do you remove existing drywall?
Use a drywall or utility knife to cut through the joint compound at a wall corner or ceiling corner, to make it easier to tear at those places. (For partial removal, mark the removal boundary with a saw cut along a stud.) Loosen the drywall along the floor with a pry bar, if possible.
How do I remove and replace drywall?
4:1113:47How To Remove Drywall from a Wall - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo I can put my saw in there and start away so just put the point against the drywall. Use the palmMoreSo I can put my saw in there and start away so just put the point against the drywall. Use the palm of your hand to kind of stab. Through. Then once you're through. Just start sawing away.
How can drywall be reused?
Remove Drywall Without Making a Big Mess. and Reuse It Too!Step 1: Cut It Out. Start by marking out the area you want to remove and cut the drywall. ... Step 2: Hunting Down Nails. ... Step 3: Rip the Nails Out. ... Step 4: Gently Remove the Drywall Without Crashing It on Your Head. ... Step 5: Then Just a Simple Clean Up. ... 3 Comments.
What's the difference in sheetrock and drywall?
Drywall is a flat panel made of gypsum plaster sandwiched in between two sheets of thick paper. It adheres to metal or wood studs using nails or screws. Sheetrock is a specific brand of drywall sheet. These terms are often used interchangeably.
How do you replace a whole sheet of drywall?
0:073:19How to Replace Damaged Drywall : Wall Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd some scrap wood first thing we want to do is take a replacement piece of drywall. Put it rightMoreAnd some scrap wood first thing we want to do is take a replacement piece of drywall. Put it right over our hole and mark around. It. After we have it all marked we're going to go ahead and cut it.
How do you remove a large section of drywall?
0:0012:15Replacing A Section Of Drywall? WATCH THIS! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipToday i'm gonna be replacing a section of drywall here's the tools you're gonna need for the entireMoreToday i'm gonna be replacing a section of drywall here's the tools you're gonna need for the entire process a cordless drill with a phillips head bit a tape measure a keyhole saw a pencil and a razor
How hard is it to replace drywall?
With patience, the right tools and a friend to help you, hanging drywall is not very difficult. Once you've learned how to hang drywall, learn how to tape and finish the installed drywall for professional-quality results. The joint work is really easier than it seems and provides very satisfying results.
When is it necessary to remove drywall?
Removing drywall may be necessary when renovating a room, repairing localized damage, or when gutting a house after a flood. Learning to approach the job properly will help it go a lot faster. Learn to prep the walls for removal and a few simple steps to get through the process efficiently. Steps.
What to do if you don't have a stud finder?
If you don't have a stud finder, go around the room carefully knocking on the wall. Hollow sounding spots should be unobstructed drywall, but harder knocking spots will have studs and possibly piping throughout. Use caution in those areas, slowing working in that direction.
Can you remove baseboards before drywalling?
Usually baseboards and ceiling moldings must be removed first, before you can access the drywall and begin removing it. This is done with a flat bar or other prying tool. Both types of moldings are usually affixed with nails, and should be pried from the walls slowly, working from nail to nail.
How to Remove Drywall Fast and Without Mess
Just because you’re trading in your sledgehammer for a framing hammer, doesn’t mean that removing drywall can’t be just as fast.
Removing a Small Section of Drywall
The drywall removal technique outlined above is targeted for those attempting to remove all the drywall from a wall.
Can You Remove Drywall and Reuse It?
It’s certainly possible to remove drywall and reuse it, but we don’t recommend it, unless you’re seriously strapped for cash.
Final Thoughts on Removing Drywall
It’s totally possible to remove drywall – even a small section, rather than an entire wall – without breaking out the sledgehammer.
How do I remove drywall from a wall?
Remove drywall in large pieces. Start near the top of the wall and work down, prying the drywall free of its fasteners as you go. Drywall is inexpensive, so don't try to save it for reuse.
How do I clean up a stud in a wall?
Clean up the studs by yanking nails or backing out screws. To make sure you find every fastener, slide a putty knife or the edge of your hammerhead along the stud. Even if you're completely removing the wall, fastener removal makes the studs safer to handle.
How to get nail out of sheet?
Wedge the flat bar between the back of the sheet and the framing as close as you can to a nail. Pry the sheet gently until the nail pops loose. When the head of the nail is far enough out for you to do so, hook it with a claw hammer.
How to loosen nails in the middle of a sheet?
You can often loosen nails in the middle of a sheet by sharply jerking an edge once you remove all the nails from that edge. Don't apply too much pressure when doing this, however, or the drywall may break. Writer Bio. Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities.
How to keep sheet from falling?
Support the sheet against the wall or ceiling to keep it from falling while you remove the last screw. You may need someone to help you do this. When the screw is out, lift the sheet away from the framing and put it in a safe place.
How much drywall is produced in the US in 2021?
Mark Johanson Updated: Jul. 21, 2021. 15 million pounds of drywall is produced in the U.S. every year. Most of it goes on walls, but around 15% is leftover waste. What should be done with it?
What is the difference between gypsum and dry wall?
Drywall is essentially gypsum (calcium sulfate) and water that is spread on paper backing and kiln-fired in 4 x 8-foot- (or 10- or 12-foot) long sheets. Calcium sulfate is a natural mineral that actually has beneficial properties in your lawn or garden soil.
Can you use drywall as a canvas?
And, if you are a creative type, know that the paper backing on drywall takes paint very well and you can use drywall as a canvas for your artwork. So, the bottom line on leftover drywall is really just to get rid of it.
Can you put drywall in compost?
You can also add crushed drywall (with the paper backing removed) to your compost bin. It does not impact the nutritive qualities of the compost, but again it adds tilth to the compost. Be aware, though, that decomposing drywall gypsum is notoriously smelly.
