Take down drywall without damaging it

[Gabi Sjödin]

Hi,
We have installed a drywall in a storage room before the electricity was installed. Now we want to take it down and then put it up again. Is it possible to unscrew it and then put it back without the drywall breaking? Asking because someone said it’s not possible to unscrew them. Prefer not to have to go and buy new panels.

 

[chrille-gäddan]

Hi,
We have put up a drywall in a storage room before the electricity is installed. Now we want to take it down and then put it back again. Is it possible to unscrew it and then screw it back without the drywall getting damaged? Asking because someone said it's not possible to unscrew them. Prefer not to have to go and buy new panels.

Have you plastered and painted the wall?
If you can't see the screw heads, it's very difficult to take down without damaging the panel.

If it's just a drywall screwed up without plastering, then you can unscrew the panels and handle them carefully.
However, you will probably have to screw into a new place when you mount them again, so you'll get some extra holes to plaster, but no worries.

 

[largab]

It's just a matter of unscrewing the screws and removing the drywall. Might have to screw in new holes afterward and do a little plastering.

 

[Dr Benz]

If the wall is properly installed with joint compound and tape, it cannot be restored.

Run the electricity on the outside or buy new drywall.

*Pictures always help…

 

[Gabi Sjödin]

Thank you for the response. Now we are wiser. The panels are only screwed in, not spackled or anything else. The screw heads are visible, so we'll make a cautious attempt. Thanks again.

 

[Bo arnold]

If you have not patched, it is possible to unscrew and make new holes when you screw up again.

 

[raveper]

It's probably just a matter of unscrewing them. Then you can put them back again. Why did someone say differently?

 

[jliljeha]

Old thread but for any future readers, it's possible to take it down even if it's spackled and painted. You need to find the screws using a magnet and work carefully. It can still go wrong, but I've done it several times.

I tore down all the interior walls on one floor of a cooperative apartment, late evenings and nights, in this way to avoid disturbing the neighbors, and 90% of the boards came down intact, sometimes maybe a little dented. Do not reuse the screw holes as mentioned.

The metal studs everything was attached to were harder to take down without bending, as there really isn't much rigidity in them.