Plaster walls are built to last and taking them down takes time, too.
Plaster walls are constructed to last for a very long time. The plaster is smoothed over a backer board by hand, and once it has dried, it becomes hard as a rock. When it is time to remove a plaster wall, it takes a bit of an effort to take the wall down to its framing. The best approach to taking down a plaster wall combines several labor-intensive techniques.
Hammer
Use a hammer to make a break in the wall in an area that appears to not have anything behind it. This is your test opening; from this, you can gain a peek inside to see where it is safe to keep hammering at the wall. A regular hammer can be used if that's all you have; you will use a lot of strength. A better choice might be a heavy sledgehammer, but pick a size that you can handle swinging several times.
Hammering the wall is an exhaustive process, so take several breaks and work on small sections at a time.
Reciprocating Saw
Use a reciprocating saw with a carbide bit to crack at the plaster wall. You also will need a metal blade for cutting through the wire mesh that forms the backbone of the plaster wall at the corners. Sparks will fly, so use the saw sparingly and strategically.
The saw is useful for neatly defining the section of the wall that will be removed. This will prevent large chunks of the wall from bringing down parts of an adjacent wall or section not planned for demolition. Use a level to draw straight vertical and horizontal lines to use as a guide for the saw.
Crowbar
Use a crowbar to pry the backing, also called button board, off the wall studs, or to remove the lathe, or wooden support strips, from the wall once the plaster layer is removed.
Button board resembles sheetrock with numerous holes throughout the board. Once plaster is smoothed over this board, it oozes into the holes, creating a strong bond between the plaster and the board.
Tap the crowbar into the gap between the wall's plaster surface and the wall stud. Use leverage to bend the crowbar against the wood stud, forcing the wall covering away from the wall stud. Once the piece is loosened enough, pull it off and then continue the process at the next section of the wall.
The Cleanup
Taking down plaster is messy, and cleaning up as you go makes demolishing a plaster wall easier. The cleanup approach is a very important aspect of the demolition, and the tools and supplies needed must be handy at the start of the job. Open the windows to maintain the air quality of the space, and wear a protective face mask and gloves. Keep a shop vac, shovel, commercial broom and commercial grade garbage bags near the work site to use when you take a break from demo to clean.
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