How to Remove Shelving Units from the Wall
If you plan to remodel your closet or replace existing the shelves, you need to remove the old shelving units from the wall. If you plan to keep the old shelves, you want to carefully remove the shelves from the wall. If you simply want to remove the shelves and dispose of them, you can remove the shelves much faster.
Items needed:
- Screwdriver or drill
- Hammer or pliers
- Water
- Putty knife
Instructions:
Step 1: Remove all items from the shelves. If you are planning to install new shelves, you can set the items aside until you are ready to place them on the new shelves. If you are not installing new shelves, you may want to store the items in a safe place.
Step 2: Check to see if the shelves are attached to directly to the wall or held in place with brackets. If the shelves are held in place by brackets, use a screwdriver or drill to remove the screws that hold the shelves and brackets in place. You can then pull the shelves away from the wall and remove them from the area.
Step 3: Check on the back of the shelves to see if they are glued or nailed to the wall. If the shelves are nailed into the wall, use the back of a hammer to remove the nails. If the nails are small, you may need to use pliers to grip and pull them out. If the shelves are glued into place, gently pull the shelves away from the wall. Apply a few drops of water to the glue on the back of the shelves to see if the glue is water soluble. If it is, it is easy to remove from the wall.
Step 4: Use a putty knife to pry the shelves from the wall. Be gentle and do not pry with too much force as it could break the shelves or make a rip or hole in the wall.
Step 5: Pick up the shelves and remove them from the area where they were hanging. If you plan to use the shelves again, you may want to store them in a safe place until you decide to use them. If you install the shelves in another part of your home, be sure to place the items you removed from the shelves in step one back on top of the shelves.