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Dust Masks
Protection is important when tearing out walls, floors, ceilings,
etc. Make sure you get a good dust mask rated for the work you are
doing.
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Protective Eyewear
Safety glasses have come a long way in recent years. There are a number
of styles and color available. I always choos a yellow or orange lens
because it makes dark spaces a bit brighter. Look for glasses that
are comfortable and provide good coverage.
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Gloves
Its important to always wear gloves to prevent splinters and abrasions.
I prefer gloves with rubber coated palms. Even nails have a hard time
puncturing them.
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Stud Finder
Identify studs behind walls with a stud finder. Knowing where studs
and beams are hiding will provided for a cleaner demo. |
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Electrical Circuit Tester
Very Important! I keep one of these nearby when doing any renovating
and demo work. Although you should cut power to rooms you are tearing
out, its not always possible to cut it to the entire house. This device
will help you identify which wires and outlets are hot, and which
are not. Some will even detect electrical current behind walls. |
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Framing Hammer
You will do most of your banging and pulling with a hammer. A framing
hammer usually works better because of its added weight and length. |
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Sledge Hammer
A sledge hammer is great for knocking out studs and banging temporary
supports into place. |
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Reciprocating Saw (Sawzall)
One of the most used tools in demolition. You will use this to cut
through plaster walls, cut out studs, floors and more. I typically
use a metal cutting blade because they go right through hidden nails
and such. The metal cutting blade also leaves a cleaner line when
cutting through plaster. |
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Wrecking Bar
A wrecking bar is heavier and longer (approx. 3ft) than typical prybars.
It is great for pulling out plaster lathe, prying up a nailed down
board and removing nails without having to bend over. It provides
a lot of leverage when you need it. |
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Pry Bars
Prybars are a must for any demolition work. They are great for removing
baseboard trim, window casing and nails. In combination with the wrecking
bar, you will be able to pry up almost everything. |
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Nail Puller
Very similar functionality to that of the prybar. When you need to
pull nails out of flooring, etc., this is the way to go. It's a good
tool to use when you may want to salvage something you are taking
out. |
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Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner
Cleanup is a must when doing demo work. A good vac will clean up a
lot of the dust and debris, especailly in hard to reach spaces like
overhead. I always like to clean sawdust and plaster bits from wall
cavities before closing them up. This tool makes is very easy. |
