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How to Remove Sheetrock with Less Mess

A few specialty tools and surgical techniques will prevent the dust clouds and subsequent clean-up

By Rain Noe - October 25, 2018

in Evergreen | Interior/Exhibition Design

The last time I hung sheetrock in my living space, I actually left the screws unspackled and didn't tape the seams. That's because I've had to remove sheetrock three times in my life, and each time was a messy P.I.T.A. involving a sledge, ending with my buddies and I looking like we were mid-make-up session for a Kabuki performance.

If you're renovating something in your home or in a client's space, it would be desirable to minimize the dust, not to mention eliminate the noise of demolition. You can do this with a couple of specialty tools (like that slide hammer nail puller we just looked at) and some thoughtful techniques.

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Here Matt Jackson of Next Level Carpentry shows you his time-tested tricks for removing sheetrock--even those tricky sheets in the corner that are essentially dadoed behind another sheet--off of the wall in clean, whole pieces. He also shows you a quick trick to break the sheets down into smaller pieces that are easy to carry outside:

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You can find links to all of these tools in the description listed here.

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Dino Makropoulos

6 years ago

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Not bad for some applications. good job.
hammers are for pushing and nailing. nothing but destruction and mess.
I use my own ( home-made) panels and more ( extractor)
I may even offered one day for more people to enjoy.
You pull instead of hammering. some times most nails are removed the same time, screws is another story. You pull in small and light pulls instead of trying to remove the panels at once.
the larger the tips (2) between studs, the better .
Keep posting your ways. nice job
dino

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Nathan D.

6 years ago

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Feh. You can cut over studs, rip the hunks you want out, then fiddle with the screws when they're clearly visible https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL45XU6TyVw

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Dan Pena

6 years ago

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Great idea but the job would have been done already if you just would have demoed it.. just put up some plastic and put a dust mask on

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- Brad Johnson
  
  Dan Pena
  
  6 years ago
  
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  I think he was presenting this method for instances where the room isn't a total gut. He wanted to preserve the adjacent wall and ceiling as well as the vapor barrier and insulation behind the drywall. I agree though. Smashing is much faster!
  
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Juan Cano

6 years ago

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Terrific video!!!

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