Organizing renovations in an apartment involves, as you know, thorough preparation of all its surfaces for finishing, including the removal of old fastening elements followed by leveling their location. Among such elements, first of all, we should include previously used and more unnecessary dowels.

• threaded fasteners(screws);
• an ordinary corkscrew and a well-sharpened knife;
• pliers (nippers), chisel, hammer and awl;
• special punch and nail puller.

In addition, in some cases, during the work you may need an electric soldering iron and a grinder.

Dismantling procedure

In order to remove the dowel from the wall, you will need to act in accordance with the following instructions:

If the metal dowel cannot be loosened, try drilling several holes near it (or make them using a metal punch). Such an operation will allow you to “stir” the dowel a little and make its dismantling much easier. If your attempt is unsuccessful, simply cut off the protruding part using a grinder and level the area in any way convenient for you.

If removing a dowel from a wall requires you to expend effort that is disproportionate to the task at hand, you may not remove it at all. Just cut sharp knife part of the fastening protruding above the surface of the wall, and then cover the hole with plaster and

Before you start finishing the walls, in most cases it is necessary to clean and perfectly level the surface. If you are planning to plaster or wallpaper your walls, you need to get rid of any nails and screws sticking out of the wall. The greatest difficulty can be caused by removing dowels, because removing a dowel from a wall without certain experience and knowledge is quite difficult.

You should not hope that you will be able to pull the dowel out of the wall with your own hands. You will definitely need to additionally use construction tools. What kind of tools and improvised means you will need depends on the purpose for which you want to remove the dowel and how you will do it.

How to remove a dowel from a concrete wall?

If the dowel sticks out of the wall along with the nail, removing it will be quite simple. You will need to take a small hammer and tap the dowel nail on both sides as well as the top and bottom to loosen it in the hole. After which you will need to take pliers and sharply pull it out of the wall.

Before removing the dowel nail from concrete wall, check whether such an operation will damage top layer plaster, which you may need in the future. As a last resort, you can simply drive the dowel and nail more tightly into the wall using a piece of metal or wood comparable in diameter to the dowel and a hammer.

As a rule, the depth of the hole for the dowel is initially made slightly larger than its length. Therefore, such an operation should not cause much difficulty. To level the surface of the wall above the dowel nail, use mastic or gypsum plaster.

How to get a plastic dowel?

There are often cases when the nail for which the dowel was driven into the wall has long been removed, but the dowel itself remains in the wall. In this case, there are several ways to remove the dowel from the wall.

1. Perhaps the most common way to remove a dowel from a concrete wall is to find a self-tapping screw suitable for the size of the dowel, screw it into the dowel approximately 2/3 of its length, and then pull it out using pliers or any other suitable construction tool.

If you don’t have a self-tapping screw on hand, you can try to pull out the dowel using a simple hand corkscrew. In this case, the dowel is pulled out of the wall, like a cork from a bottle.

2. If the dowel does not unscrew in this way, try making several small holes around the dowel, at a minimum distance from it, and only then try to pull the dowel out of the wall. Please note that in this case you will end up with a significantly larger hole. larger diameter.

3. If you cannot remove the mounting dowel or nail from the concrete, you can, by analogy with the method described above, simply leave it in the wall. True, driving a plastic dowel deep into the wall will not be so easy. To simplify the process, use a construction knife to cut off the head of the dowel, and only then drive it deeper into the wall and putty on top.

4. If you have a drill in your house, you can try to drill out the dowel. Select a drill of the same or slightly larger diameter than the size of the dowel and simply drill it out from there. The dowel will come out of the hole as plastic shavings. The hole is then also filled with putty.

What to do if there is a fragment of a nail or screw left in the dowel?

A nail or self-tapping screw in a dowel sometimes breaks due to too much high pressure. In this case, you will not be able to pull it out with pliers. But there is another effective way. You can take a soldering iron or gas burner and heat the plastic dowel until it becomes soft and pliable.

After this, you need to quickly pull out the dowel along with the fragment from the wall until the plastic hardens again. If you can’t pull it out the first time, the dowel can be heated again until the operation is successful.

How to get a chopstick out of the wall?

Nowadays, plastic dowels are widely used, which are considered stronger, more durable and reliable. However, some people still use wooden dowels instead of plastic dowels the old fashioned way.

The difference in dismantling plastic and wooden dowels is not so great. You can also try screwing a self-tapping screw into it and pulling it out with pliers, a nail puller, or something else at hand. suitable tool.

Another popular way to get rid of a wooden dowel is to break it apart and pull it out piece by piece. Using a chisel and hammer, divide the dowel along the grain into several parts, then pick out the fragments using a knife or screwdriver.

You can also try drilling out the cap using a drill. However, if the chopik was made of hard wood, this process will take quite a long time. Instead of a drill, you can use a hammer drill if you have one. However, do not overdo it, otherwise you will end up with holes in the wall that are much larger in diameter than you would like.

Dismantling window dowel nails from wood

Typically, wood dowels and nails are used when installing wooden windows. Using 3-4 such nails wooden window sill attached to stone or wooden base(depending on what materials your walls are made of), as well as several dowels are used to fix the window frame.

When replacing wooden window to plastic, it is better to get rid of all these dowels and replace them with more durable plastic ones.

How to get a metal dowel?

Metal dowels are quite rare, because... their installation requires special equipment. Pulling out such a dowel is not an easy task, because you will not be able to destroy it with any tool. The only option is to try to carefully remove it from the wall.

If the dowel protrudes slightly from the wall, try loosening it in the hole with a hammer. As a rule, such dowels sit very firmly in the wall, and they cannot simply be pulled out of the wall.

If the dowel is almost flush with the surface of the wall, all that remains is to make several small holes at a minimum distance around the dowel, and then drag it using a nail puller or pliers. If you don't have a drill, this operation can be performed using a hammer and a punch.

Repair work involves finishing the walls, so the walls must first be properly prepared. Including, you will have to remove from the walls all the old fasteners that are no longer needed.

Most often you have to remove nails and dowels, since these are the most common types of fasteners that are often used on walls.

There are quite a few ways to remove a dowel that has become unnecessary from the wall. You don’t need any special equipment for this – almost everyone has such a tool at home. How and with what to deal with a dowel stuck in the wall:

• Self-tapping screw;
• Corkscrew;
• Nail puller;
• Take out in parts;
• Trim and mask;
• Melts;
• Drill out.

Let's look at each method in more detail. Removing the dowel:

1.Self-tapping screw. In the simplest case, when the dowel in the wall, although it fits tightly, is not stuck “tightly”, you can use the elementary method of screwing a self-tapping screw of suitable size into an empty plastic dowel. The self-tapping screw should fit tightly into the dowel. After this, it is grabbed with pliers and pulled out along with the plastic dowel.

2.Corkscrew. Sometimes, if a suitable self-tapping screw is not available, an ordinary corkscrew that can be screwed into a dowel can help.

3. Nail puller. If you cannot pull out the self-tapping screw and dowel using pliers, you can pick it up with a more massive tool using a nail puller. A nail puller allows you to create a convenient lever and pull out even fasteners that are very stuck in the wall. The main thing is that the self-tapping screw sits tightly in the dowel. In addition, you need to place something dense under the nail puller so as not to damage the wall during operation.

4. In parts. To remove a homemade wooden dowel (chop) from the wall, you will first have to break it into pieces. This is done using a thin chisel, screwdriver or other similar tool. It's simple, put a chisel against the chop and hammer it inside with a hammer, and then pull it out. As a result, the chop will disintegrate into several elements along the fibers and it will be possible to special labor remove from the wall piece by piece.

5. Trim and mask. It is not so easy to get out a dowel that fits too tightly in a dream; perhaps it is better to leave it in its place. In this case, it should be carefully trimmed so that it is flush with the wall.

6.Melt. If the dowel is stuck together with a screw or self-tapping screw and does not want to be pulled out, you can use a soldering iron to melt the plastic shell of the dowel. To do this, the soldering iron is heated strongly and placed tightly against the screw or self-tapping screw. After a minute, the dowel shell will begin to soften and melt. In this state, the dowel can be removed simply with pliers or another suitable tool.

7. Drill out. Another way to remove the dowel is to drill several holes nearby. Of course, this method has a drawback, since the wall will be quite damaged. However, in some cases this is the only option to solve the problem. For example, this can be done in the case where a massive metal dowel is “tightly” stuck in the wall.

From time to time the furniture in our house has to be rearranged. And in case of renovation, the location of wardrobes, “walls” and other large-sized furniture designs often needs to be changed.

And then you notice small holes in the walls, ceiling and floor - the result of the arrangement of everyday life by the current or former owners of the apartment. And in order to get rid of these holes, you first need to free the walls from the dowels stuck in it.

If you don't have construction experience, removing the dowel from the wall may not be so easy. Therefore, before getting started, you should learn more about the types of dowels. Moreover, we will be interested in the materials from which they are made.

Main varieties

The most common today is a plastic dowel made of polypropylene. In the walls of old apartments you can find wooden dowels - chopiki. And finally, rare, but still found, are metal dowels.

The properties of plastic, wood and metal are well known from school physics and chemistry lessons. Armed with this knowledge, we can confidently get to work.

We get rid of dowels in different ways

In most cases, removing the dowel from the wall is not difficult. If it does not fit tightly in the hole, it is enough to grab it securely by the cap with pliers and pull. You can try to pull out a broken plastic or wooden dowel using a screw. Screw it into the dowel by about one-third of the length and, using the same pliers, try to carefully pull it out of the hole.

In other cases, in order to pull the dowel out of the wall, the master will have to be smart. Let's consider alternative ways removing the dowel:

1. We drive it in. If there is no particular need to remove the hardware, you can simply drive it inside. This case is suitable for plastic and, in some cases, wooden dowels. It is enough to take a core or bolt of a suitable diameter and length and use a hammer to drive it deeper into the hole.
2. We drill it out. If, however, there should not be a dowel in the wall, it can be drilled out. This way you can remove most plastic and wooden products. Using a drill and a drill of a suitable diameter, we turn the dowel into chips and blow it out of the hole.
3. We burn it out. You can try to remove the plastic dowel that is tightly seated in the hole using a soldering iron. Using a preheated soldering iron, we heat the dowel itself. Under the influence high temperature the plastic becomes soft and weakens its adhesion to the wall. Then you should quickly screw a suitable size screw into it and carefully pull the dowel out of the wall. Or just drive it deeper, as in the first case.
4. We drill. This method is suitable for all types of hardware. It can be especially recommended for removal from the wall metal dowels. Using a drill and a drill, we drill several shallow holes next to the dowel. This way, its grip on the wall is weakened and it can be pulled out with pliers or wire cutters. In some cases, to achieve a better effect, you can hit the dowel several times with a hammer from the sides to loosen it in the wall and loosen the grip.

Other effective ways

In the arsenal home handyman There are several more proven ways to pull a dowel out of a wall:

• You can, for example, use metal tube suitable diameter. By hammering it into the hole, the dowel penetrates and is secured inside. Then the tube is taken out along with the hardware.
• Wooden choppers can be split with a chisel and pulled out piece by piece from the hole.
• Finally, you can simply ignore all the dowels and cover the wall with a thick layer of plaster. The main thing is that the end result should be smooth. flat wall, ready for further processing.

All work must be carried out in compliance necessary measures security. Use special devices and tools personal protection to preserve the health of the master.

Few people know how to properly remove an old dowel from a wall. The main thing is to try to choose a simple, reliable and economical method. Skills in installing and dismantling fasteners will help you achieve results; experience in using electric and hand tools will come in handy.

Several types are available specifically for concrete; they always use a nail as a rod. Reliable operation can be guaranteed if you are able to choose the right version based on the dimensions of the plane and the massiveness of the suspended structures, and perform high-quality installation.

Before starting work, you need to evaluate the quality and thickness of the surface. Availability hidden electrical wiring and metal fittings is the basis for changing the location. Sometimes it is not easy to hammer in a dowel carefully without damaging the adjacent part of the wall.

The most commonly used options are:

1. Expandable, suitable for solid walls. It will establish itself inside it due to the expansion of the plastic casing. The plastic bushing is made with a cone-shaped metal core or with a threaded thread.
2. Universal. The built-in nail fits tightly to the walls of the hole. Suitable for loose, hollow partitions.

You can insert the dowel using a drill with a hammer or hammer function, a concrete drill, or a hammer. Correctly perform the work in the following sequence:

• using a hammer drill, punch a hole with a diameter similar to the bushing and a depth exceeding the length of the fastening element by 0.5 cm;
• clean the resulting recess from dirt and dust;
• fix the dowel body with a hammer until its edge aligns with the wall surface;
• hammer the nail into the body until it stops.

If you follow all the installation rules, it will be difficult to get it.

Pulling algorithm

A protruding nail disrupts the aesthetic appearance, so it must be removed or hidden. When removing old fasteners from the wall, your wits and ability to use power tools will come in handy.

1. The element that rises above the surface can be removed by rocking and unscrewing it. Loosen it with a hammer, hitting it on the protruding part with different sides. Then you should grab it with pliers or wire cutters and pull it out. It will not be possible to get it out if you pull it out of the hole using only translational force. If the fasteners are of significant size, it is advisable to use a nail puller, which will help remove them with less effort.
2. Much more patience is required when it is necessary to remove a broken dowel if it is difficult or impossible to grasp or hook. The plastic case must be heated and melted with a hot soldering iron. This allows you to remove it from the wall using pliers or other similar tools.
3. A metal tube, the diameter and length of which should be slightly larger than the fastener, often helps to get it out. It is driven in so that the bushing is inside. Then, at the same time, the nail should be pulled out.
4. In the most hopeless situations, the dowel is removed with a hammer and drill. Using a drill of the required size, make several holes (recesses) directly around the socket. As a result, the strength of the nearby part of the wall decreases. The element can be easily removed with a suitable tool (pliers, wire cutters, etc.), then the surface is leveled with putty or plaster.

When a broken fastener cannot be pulled out, it is masked. It is recommended to try to hammer the dowel into the concrete as deeply as possible with a hammer, using a strong, thin tool. If you cannot remove the nail, you can use another method: using a grinder, cut off the excess part.

It is often necessary to remove the remaining plastic casing in the wall without a metal rod. Experts advise doing this:

• select the appropriate self-tapping screw for the bushing the right size(about types of screws for concrete), screw in three-quarters of the way, then loosen and remove;
• use a hand corkscrew to remove the dowel, carefully unscrewing it;
• if you can’t pull it out using the methods listed above, you should try cutting off the protruding parts with a knife, and hammer the rest into the wall;
• drill out the plastic bushing, selecting a tool of equal or larger diameter.

Before carrying out work, builders recommend assessing their feasibility. It is really necessary to think about pulling it out if you need to make a new hole nearby. For example, if you need to hang a new curtain rod in the same place, but the old fasteners do not fit.

The resulting depression, after you manage to remove the nail, will become large and will have to be sealed. To do this, you need to fill it with putty or plaster, apply a paint mesh, clean it, and level the surface with sandpaper after drying.

What to do if a dowel falls out of the wall?

The condition of the concrete does not always correspond to the required level, since low-quality mortar was used during construction. Interior partitions, the openings for the windows are made of material that, after decades, has become loose and free-flowing. In houses like this, nails fall out.

There are several ways to solve this problem:

1. Drill a hole in concrete, remove particles, fill it liquid nails or epoxy glue. After thickening, install the dowel. Items can be hung after ensuring final curing.
2. Screw a layer of electrical tape in the direction of the thread ( regular will do cellophane), the resulting thickness should ensure a tight fit into the hole. Then drive the element into the plastic case, due to this it will expand, which will increase reliability.
3. Wrap the dowel with a damp bandage (just wet it enough) until the required diameter is obtained and install it in the walls; you can immediately drive a nail. Use the fasteners for their intended purpose after the liquid has completely evaporated.

The main thing is to adhere to the rules that ensure reliability and durability during operation: make additional reinforcement, select an element with dimensions larger than usual.