How to Remove Old Bathroom Laminated Formica Wallboard Covering

Formica wallboard may be a little tough to remove if it has been glued to the wall on top of being nailed. If this is the case, you will slightly damage the drywall when removing the wallboard. The damage is easily fixed by the use of drywall compound. Basic hand tools are all that you need to remove the wall board.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Box knife
• Hammer
• Flat bar
• 6-inch stiff blade putty knife

Removing Formica Wallboard

1. Remove the baseboard. It is likely that your baseboard or shoe molding is installed over the wall board. Use your flat bar and hammer to remove the baseboard. Place the end of the flat bar on the top edge of the baseboard and use your hammer to tap on the end of the flat bar. As the bar slides behind the baseboard, pry it out. Continue this process around the room.

2. Remove the plastic trim strips. Formica wallboard will typically have plastic trim strips that cover where separate sheets of formica come together. Hold your 6-inch putty knife next to the edge of the trim. Use your hammer to tap the end of the handle on the putty knife. The trim will start to loosen. Do this the entire length of the trim. Continue this process to remove all trim pieces.

3. Begin removing the wallboard at the seam. The seam is where two sheets of wall board come together. Place your flat bar at the edge of one sheet of wallboard. Use your hammer to hit the end of the flat bar. Pry out as the flat bar slides under the edge of the wallboard. Continue this process all the down the seam. Pull out on the wallboard with your hands when you have loosened the edge of the wallboard.

4. Work your way across each piece of wall board. There may be nails on both edges and down the middle of the wallboard. After one edge is loose, slide the pry bar further behind the wallboard and pry out. Continue doing this until you have reached the opposite edge. Pry out on the opposite edge and remove the wallboard from the wall.

5. Use your putty knife and hammer if the wallboard has been glued to the wall. Place your 6-inch putty knife up to the edge of the wallboard where two sheets come together. Use your hammer to hit the end of the handle. Hitting the handle will cause the putty knife to slide in under the edge of the wallboard and cut through the glue at the same time. Continue this process down the entire seam.

6. Pull out on the wallboard when you have loosened the edge. Use your hammer and putty knife to cut through the glue when you can see where it has been glued across the center of the wallboard. Continue this process until you can remove the wallboard from the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• You will cause come drywall damage if the wallboard has been glued to the wall. Use sandpaper to smooth the holes that have been created during removal. Use drywall compound to fill the holes and allow to dry overnight. Sand with drywall sandpaper the next day until the patches are smooth.

[mom2ty92]

on 11/6/2009 This worked perfect on the old laminated formica wallboard covering in my bathroom. I did have some drywall damage from the glue, but it's fixable.