Do It Yourself Knocking Down Plaster Finish
- 1). Move all furniture away from the plaster finish you're knocking down and cover the floor with a plastic tarp for added protection.
- 2). Put on safety goggles and a face mask or respirator to protect yourself during the work.
- 3). Pull off any trim or molding that is in front of the plaster finish you wish to knock down. Use a pry bar and tap gently with a hammer if necessary. You can reuse these once the new wall is installed.
- 4). Knock through the plaster finish with a sledgehammer. This is not gentle work. It's messy and hardcore. Continue whacking the plaster finish with the hammer until it's all been knocked down. If there's lath, use the pry bar to remove it.
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