How to Tear Down a Wall & Put Another One Up

Consult with a structural engineer to determine whether or not the wall you will be tearing down is a load-bearing wall. If you will be tearing down a load-bearing wall, there are steps you can take to ensure your safety and the structural integrity of your home. Ask the engineer questions regarding recommended building methods for your home as well.

Turn off the electrical supply and prepare the wall for tear-down by removing any electrical face plates over your outlets and light switches.

Pry off the baseboard trim with a small pry bar. Peel this away from the wall slowly and carefully to preserve it if you plan on reusing it for the next wall you put in place.

Drill holes into the drywall every 3 to 4 feet as a starter hole. You do not have to be exact with how you do this. Watch out for studs in the wall. The purpose of these holes will be for drywall removal, so if you hit a stud, move over a few inches and start over.

Cut the drywall in vertical strips from floor to ceiling using a sawzall tool. This tool should cut right through your drywall and any pesky nails that get in the way. Cut horizontally along the floor and ceiling until you read a stud.

Pull each piece of drywall out in large pieces. Use a hammer to knock out or a crow bar to pry off any remaining stubborn pieces of drywall. Take your wall down to the bare bones by removing all of the drywall on both sides of the wall.

Cut the studs you wish to remove, at the base and at the top, using the sawzall tool. Only remove those studs that you know you won't be using. For example, if you are moving a doorway from one end of the wall to another, only cut out those studs where the new door will go. If you're replacing the wall to fix termite or moisture damage, you may need to scrap all of the studs, except for the load-bearing ones.

Measure and cut any of the studs you will be replacing. Cut these using a circular saw. Set the wood on two sawhorses and cut off any excess that you don't need.

Nail the studs back into the existing opening where you just removed the old studs from. Drive 3-inch steel galvanized nails diagonally through the studs into the support beams above and below. Studs should be placed about 16 inches apart.

Measure and cut drywall to cover the new wall. Nail the drywall down using 1- to 1.5-inch drywall nails. Don't drive the nail too far down or you may create a hole in the drywall. Drywall should be nailed to the studs.

Tape the seams between your drywall sheets using a standard drywall tape.

Apply the wall covering of your choice, such as paint. Reinstall your electrical cover plates and turn the electricity back on.