How to Tear Out a Corner Bead With Sheetrock

Spread a plastic tarp under the sheetrock corner that you are working on to prevent damaging the underlying floor.

Examine the bottom of the wall corner to locate a chipped area of the drywall compound where you can begin the repair. If there is no chip, cut into the corner edge of the wall with a utility knife to break away the compound.

Scrape off the drywall compound from either side of the sheetrock corner with a putty knife. If needed, tap the head of the knife gently with a hammer to loosen the compound. You should be able to see both the left and right edge of the metal corner bead strip once enough drywall compound is removed.

Cut up the left side of the wall with the utility knife and keep the blade at the side of the corner bead. When you have cut a line all the way up the left side, repeat the process on the right side of the corner bead.

Insert the flat edge of a pry bar into the upper left of the corner bead, slipping it between the bead and the sheetrock. Push back on the handle of the bar to pry the corner bead nails from the wall. Repeat the process down the entire left side of the corner bead to detach the nails.

Move to the right side of the corner bead and use the pry bar to remove the nails on that side as well.

Grasp the corner bead in your gloved hands and pull it free from the corner of the sheetrock.