Any tips on safely removing a wall with wiring involved for first-timers like us?
Hey everyone, just wanted to share the after photo of the wall we’ve been working on. Thanks so much for all your advice and input on this!
We decided to bring in an electrician for the wiring, and the rest of it we managed to remove with a reciprocating saw.
We actually inherited this setup from the previous owner, and we’re looking to take it down. Since it’s our first time doing something like this, we could really use some guidance. There’s some wiring involved, so any tips on the best way to tackle that would be much appreciated. What kind of tool do you think would be the most effective for taking this down and leaving us with a smooth wall? As for the electrical work, do you think it’s okay to cut the access and cap it behind the wall, or is there a better method you’d recommend?
Thanks a bunch! 🙏🏽
Dealing with the wiring can be tricky. If you’re not confident with electrical work, it’s best to call in a professional. The wiring may be connected to an internal outlet or directly into the wall, but you won’t know until you investigate further.
Switching off the power to the lights should be your first step for safety. Once that’s done, remove the light fixtures for a closer look. If you don’t see much, you might have to use a reciprocating saw to cut a section of the drywall to check behind it. It’s probably attached with screws in specific places, similar to mounting a shelf. Removing these screws should allow you to take it down. Just be ready to patch up and paint afterward to cover any holes.
It could have been done to conceal something. I recently removed something similar and was shocked by what I found! So, brace yourself for that. Sellers are typically preoccupied with hiding things rather than being upfront about them.
This is a disaster. First, turn off the power and take down the lights. Check out what’s back there. Someone really went through a lot of trouble to set up that eyesore.
Lay down some heavy tarps. Use a sheetrock knife to go through all the corners. Use the Claw of the hammer to make a hole and start working it along to remove the material.
Once you’re sure it’s empty and where the electrical stuff is, use a sawzall to cut it into pieces. Tear it off with your Claw hammer.
Keep your drill ready for screws. Keep your sawzall ready for nails (to cut).
Make sure you don’t just cap wires and leave them in the wall! Find out where they’re coming from (probably an outlet close by) and deactivate the wires. You definitely don’t want to risk a fire just to get rid of an ugly sight.