DIY Sheetrock Removal

Sheetrock is the brand name of drywall made by the USG Corporation to create walls and ceilings in both residential and commercial structures. Drywall is meant to last for decades, but you may need to replace it sooner if has been flood-damaged, for example. All that's required to remove drywall is to pull the material from the studs to which it's attached. The process is messy and labor intensive, but any homeowner can do it with a little preparation before starting. Does this Spark an idea?

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Pry bar
Claw hammer

Instructions

- 1
  
  Remove the baseboard running along the bottom of the Sheetrock or drywall by forcing it away from the wall with a pry bar. Push the pry bar between the baseboard and the wall at the edge of the board where its nailed into place. Apply pressure to move the baseboard slowly from the wall, pulling the nail along with it. Move along the board to the next nail and pry it away from that position as well. Continue along the board, prying from nail to nail until you have pulled the entire baseboard free.
- 2
  
  Remove molding around any windows or doors in the wall using the same methodical prying process as used with the baseboard.
- 3
  
  Pry the bottom of the drywall panel away from the studs using the pry bar in the gap between the base of the drywall and the floor. The drywall should pull off the nails, with the bottom of the panel breaking away.
- 4
  
  Take a hammer and use the side of the head to break through the drywall down the center of the panel. Avoid areas where electrical outlets are located.
- 5
  
  Grab the edges of the broken panels and pull them away from the studs. The panel may break into sections as you pull them away, and if so, simply grab a section and pull it off the nails on the studs as well.
- 6
  
  Use the claw of the hammer to pull the nails from the studs, finishing the drywall removal.