How to Remove an Old Walk in Closet

Although many walk-in closets are an attractive storage solution, some earlier or retrofitted models take up too much space to justify what they contribute. In such a case, removing the closet can open up the room its attached to. Breaking down a walk-in closet is a relatively simple project. It's safe if done correctly, and requires no skills that a beginning do-it-yourselfer hasn't already used. Set aside one day to a full weekend for the project, depending on your comfort level.

Things You'll Need

• Tarps or garbage bags
• Screwdriver or power scredriver
• Safety goggles
• Breathing mask
• Hammer or sledge hammer
• Box knife or drywall knife
• Crowbar (optional)
• Garbage bin
• Jig saw or reciprocating saw

Instructions

Safety Check

1. Confirm that none of the walls that make up your walk-in closet are load-bearing walls. If you don't know how to do this, get a professional to check and confirm. This is not something to take your best guess on.

2. Check that no electrical wires run through the walls you plan to tear out. In most cases, you can tell by the presence of light switches or electrical outlets. If there are electrical wires, have a qualified contractor or electrician handle moving them.

3. Check for environmental hazards such as asbestos or lead paint in or on the walls. You should be able to find this information in the documents from purchasing the house. If these are present, seriously consider having a professional do the demolition.

Preparation

1. Remove as much as you can from the room attached to the walk in closet. Cover what you can't remove with tarps or garbage bags. The mess from your demolition will cover everything with dust.

2. Empty the walk-in closet of everything stored inside. Take it to a different room than the one you're working in.

3. Remove all shelves and fixtures from the wall using your screwdriver. If the closet has an internal light, remove the cover and place a garbage bag over the bulb and fixture.

4. Remove the closet door from its frame.

5. Pry the door jamb edging off using your screwdriver and the claw of your hammer.

Tear Down Drywall

1. Put on your safety goggles and breathing mask. The demolition will throw up a lot of dust.

2. Choose one wall you need to tear down. Use your hammer or sledgehammer to knock a hole through the drywall on one side.

3. Using the hole as a starting point, cut off a manageable chunk of the drywall with your box knife. Remove it and place in your garbage bin. Alternatively, you can keep knocking out chunks with your hammer.

4. Repeat as many times as is necessary to remove all the drywall between the two wall studs where you're working. Use the claw of your hammer or a crowbar to help pry off drywall held in place by nails.

5. Repeat steps two through four until you've removed all the drywall from the walls you want removed.

Removing Wall Studs

1. Choose one vertical wall stud. Use your jigsaw or reciprocating saw to cut out a one-foot section of the wall stud.

2. Repeat with all other exposed wall studs you want to remove.

3. Use your claw hammer or crow bar to pry loose the now free-hanging pieces of wall stud.

4. Pry up any floor or ceiling studs that were part of the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you've removed the walls, the remodeling project will require more steps. Depending on your plan, this may require installing new flooring, plastering over the exposed wall and ceiling, moving electrical components, repainting and more.

References

• Mike Byers; General Contractor; Corvallis, OR
• "Step by Step Basic Carpentry"; Ben Allen; 1997