Demolishing a Closet and Disposal of Waste

If your bedroom needs a little bit more space or perhaps you are connecting two rooms, removing a closet can be the perfect solution.  In most cases removing a closet should be easy to accomplish and something that you can do without the help of a professional. However if you own a much older home, you might want to consult with a pro before you begin to ensure you do not do any damage to other structures in the house.

The first thing you should do is make sure you have all of the tools you will need. Safety goggles, a mask for your mouth and nose, a hammer and a saw are all you should really need. A reciprocating saw would work great here however if you do not have one, you can just use a good old handsaw.  You will most likely want to lay down tarps or sheets to keep your work space clean.  You also need to consider your waste disposal. Dry wall is messy, so you want to make sure you have a plan for all of the broken pieces, as well as for the wood that will be coming down during the process.  A 10 yard dumpster would be a great option for this size project.

Once you are all setup, the first step in this demolition is to remove the doors and clothing bar so that you have an open, empty space. Next you want to create holes in the walls between the studs. These holes should be big enough for you to reach your hand into. Several large holes on each wall are all that is needed. Next remove the horizontal support beams that you see inside the closet.  You should cut these out using a reciprocating saw. This will now allow you to remove all of the plaster/ drywall from around the closet.  Stick your hand in the holes you created and pull on the drywall until it comes free.

At this point the only thing that should remain are the studs that framed in the closet.  Before continuing, make sure none of the studs are loading bearing.  If you have any doubt, bring in a pro to look. It is better to be safe then sorry. Once you are sure none of the studs are load-bearing you can cut the studs in half with a reciprocating saw so you can easily pull the studs from the top and bottom of the closet.

Waste disposal is the final step of the process. Make sure you vacuum well to ensure drywall dust isn’t floating around your home. Also check the floor for any nails or screws that might have fallen out during the demo.