Once mounted, laminate paneling on drywall can last for years, making removal of both a difficult process. To do so correctly without damaging the framing beneath requires that you remove each of the elements that make up the wall separately. You'll have to reverse the installation process, stripping away the laminate paneling, then prying off the drywall to reach the bare frame. It's a destructive procedure, and though you may save some of the laminate for later use, the drywall will not likely survive the process. After completion, you can rebuild you framework however you wish with none of the original wall in the way.
Instructions
1. Close any cabinet or closets and cover any furniture in the room with plastic, secured in place with masking tape. Place plastic sheeting over windows and doors to prevent the dust created during the removal process from spreading to other rooms.
2. Clean the caulk and the surrounding surfaces with a mild liquid soap and warm water. Use a sponge to remove any dirt or debris from the area, and then rinse the soap off with clean water. Pat the area dry with a piece of cloth.
3. Use a heat gun, set to low to soften the caulk for removal. Set the gun to a temperature below 300 degrees Fahrenheit and point the nozzle at the caulk. Direct the heat from the gun over the caulk, slowly moving in a back and forth motion to heat the caulk. Direct the gun away and test the caulk occasionally for softness. When the caulk is soft enough to indent with a fingernail, then you can begin stripping it away.
4. Cut the caulk into sections about a foot in length with a razor knife. Pry the caulk from the surface with the edge of a putty knife. If it begins to harden again, reapply heat to soften the caulk then continue with the removal. Wipe the surface with a cloth dampened with denatured alcohol to clear any dirt trapped into place by the caulk.
5. Slide the edge of the putty knife under the edge of the laminate and apply slight pressure to wedge the edge up from the drywall beneath.
6. Slip a wide paint scraper into the opening created along the edge of the laminate with the putty knife. Remove the putty knife. Pour acetone into a spray bottle and then spray the acetone into the opening along the edge of the laminate. Spray a generous amount into the opening so that it seeps beneath the laminate along the contact cement on the rear of the laminate that adheres it to the drywall. Allow the acetone to soak into the cement for one minute.
7. Push the scraper along the edge of the laminate, working towards the center of the board along the acetone-soaked drywall surface. The acetone softens the cement, allowing the blade to push right through, prying the laminate from the drywall. Continue spraying and prying until you've removed the entire laminate sheet.
8. Place a thin pry bar into a seam along the edge of the drywall panel. Push the prybar into the seam so that it's located slightly above a drywall nail. Pry the drywall away from the stud, pulling it towards you. Slide the prybar down slightly to just below the nail and repeat the process, pulling it farther from the wall. Continue this process down the entire seam at each nail location, loosening the drywall in place. Pull the nails out of the studs using a claw hammer.
9. Remove the drywall. If you cannot remove all the nails, carefully cut a hole into the drywall to the side of the seams with a drywall saw large enough to put your arm through. Reach to the rear of the drywall and tap on the back of the drywall towards the center with a hammer, pushing the drywall away from the studs, or breaking it into large pieces.
10. Remove the large pieces so that you'll have better access to the smaller pieces held into place by the nails. Pull these smaller pieces from the walls, and then remove the nails with the hammer.
Tips Warnings
Wear a respirator during the removal process to avoid breathing particles or fumes.
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