Hi-I am doing demo/deconstruction in my new 1950s house.
Took down A TON of paneling and old drywall from the walls, and I want to remove the hundreds (thousands?) of nails from the studs to have a clean surface.
Would it be better to get an oscillating saw and cut them, or pull them all with a hammer or nail pliers? Or another method?
Never done a project this big so I want to ask some pros for advice!
Thank you!
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Replies
I would pull them. Probably a straight claw hammer for drywall nails. Anything else I'd use "The Extractor" pliers. This is a great tool, pulls anything from brads to sinkers if you can get a grip on them. It needs about 1/8" or so at a minimum.
Thanks. Looks like those are discontinued but I will find something similar.
Try this:
https://www.amazon.com/Bates-Puller-Pliers-Remover-Carpenter/dp/B07W1H1ZZL/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3MHF0S5WOUDVL&keywords=nail+puller+pliers&qid=1657486666&s=hi&sprefix=Nail+Puller+Pliers%2Ctools%2C56&sr=1-5
I have a similar one by Cresent. Works great if you can get a grip on the nail.
I'd use a 4.5" grinder with a cutoff wheel. It burns through nails.
Highly recommend a pneumatic de-nailer. About $50. Shoots nail back out. Also works for removing plywood sheathing (can send the nail through the panel and it pulls right up).
I wish I had this earlier, before taking down all of that paneling!
I redid my basement and used a wonder bar to pull the nails. Vice grips came in handy for nails that had lost their heads. (then the wonder bar for leverage)
I also had good luck with a pair of channel lock pliers. Tapping a few deeper instead of pulling is not the end of the world.
But before you get too carried away, you might want to carefully look at how straight the framing is. you might decide to install strapping at right angles to the framing and shim to get a solid and straight surface for drywall, and most of the nails could stay where they are.
Thanks!
As an amateur, my question is: why pull them rather than cut and pound (as necessary)?
Seems like you'd be leaving lots of voids where you don't need them. The holes are likely not so plentiful that it will cause a problem, but why introduce a potential problem and space for critters to crawl into when you can save time by cutting the nails off instead?
I was more concerned with what would be more efficient use of my time and energy, and if I did lop off fasteners, would that be an issue in the future? Would the nail remnants be a problem when I was hanging new drywall, if I happened to drive a nail or screw into the same spot…
I was basically curious what a construction worker/GC would do if they were renovating a house, when time is money.
Ditto on a prybar, the drywall nails in my 1950s house come out easy and have large heads. A catspaw helps with any stuck ones. You can motor through the job quickly if your house is anything like mine.
Thanks!
"Tons" of nails sounds like drywall nails to me. I can't see how you could have framing nails in your studs. Assuming drywall nails you give your 7 year old a claw hammer and tell him to go at it. Even a 7 year old should be able to pull all the nails in an hour.
No kids. Maybe if I found a little league team and gave them some amphetamines and hammers they could all knock it out in an hour.
The paneling nails should pull with a pair of pliers for the most part. (good light and a pair of reading glasses if you use them is a good plan)
One of the very best tools for pulling (not just cutting) nails is end cutting pliers. I've got a very large pair that will pull 16d s without much trouble. You need to squeeze hard enough for them to bite but not cut.
A catspaw helps with any stuck ones. You can motor through the job quickly if your house is anything like mine.