Removing Plaster Walls & Drywall

Put on safety gear, particularly a respirator to prevent inhalation of the plaster and drywall particles, and goggles to keep dust out of your eyes. Wear gloves to protect your hands.

Open the windows in the room, or the door if there are no windows. Place a box fan in one of the windows so that it draws air from the room and blows it outside; this will reduce the amount of dust in the room.

Lay plastic tarps on the floor under the walls you need to remove.

Turn off the breaker in the rooms you are going to work in; this will protect you from accidental electrocution in the event you cut through a wire. Shut off the gas and water lines. Go into your basement or utility room and turn the lever on the lines to their respective "Off" positions. Depending on the building, the shut off valve may be located outside where the line enters the structure, such as at the water main.

Knock on the wall with your knuckles and listen for a hollow sound, which indicates that there's nothing behind that portion of the wall. Break through it using a hammer. Shine a flashlight into the hole and look for nearby pipes or wires. If you see a pipe or other object, mark the wall over that area to remind yourself that it is there. If you're unable to use a hammer, you can use a sawzall or similar power saw to cut through the plaster or drywall instead of breaking it with a hammer.

Pry off the plaster and drywall with your hands and a crowbar. Smash the wall with a hammer or cut it with a saw when necessary, being constantly on alert for pipes and wires. The drywall and plaster should not be attached to the pipes or wires in any way; simply be careful when pulling the wall down in these areas. Be sure to remove the face plates from electrical outlets if they're present before removing the wall behind them. Remove the screw from the faceplate with a screw driver, then lift it from the wall and set it aside.

Fold the flooring plastic up carefully when you're finished stripping the walls. Bundle the plastic up into a ball, then dispose of it in a large trash can. Vacuum the room with an industrial sweeper that it designed to handle drywall and plaster dust. A normal household sweeper cannot handle the large amount of dust properly and will burn up.