How to Remove Wire Shelving

Removing a wire shelf requires care in order to avoid damaging the surround drywall where it was mounted. By using some common sense and a few simple hand tools, your removal job doesn't have to become a major household repair job.

Supplies

• Flat head screwdriver


• Phillips head screw driver


• Utility knife


• Drywall compound

1. Examine how the shelf is mounted to the wall. The attachment will be either by tension, clip or screw.


2. Remove tension shelves by grasping the edges of thes helf and pulling them outward to release tension from the bracket. Once this is done, the shelf can be removed. Take the brackets from the wall with a cordless drill or screwdriver.


3. Wire shelf systems, which employ clips, can be removed by taking out the clip with a Phillips head screwdriver. Once the clip is loose, pry it off with the flat head screwdriver and pull the shelf off.


4. Check how the brackets are installed into the wall. Don't pull or wiggle the screws, but remove them carefully to avoid wall damage. 


5. Cut around any paint that may have sealed the bracket to the wall with a utility knife before attempting to remove it.


6. Take out brackets from the wall carefully with a Phillips or flat-headed screwdriver, depending on the screws. Repeat this for all screws.


7. Pry plastic lag bolts from the drywall with a flat head screwdriver. These are the plastic insert which helped to support the original screw. This part of the process won't be necessary if the shelf was mounted to the stud.


8. Remove shelves secured by screws by simply removing the screws and brackets.


9. Fill any holes in drywall with drywall compound to repair the holes.