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Removing drywall sheets for reuse is basically impossible. There’s a couple dozen screws holding each piece of drywall in place and they’re not easily removabl

Removing drywall sheets for reuse is basically impossible. There’s a couple dozen screws holding each piece of drywall in place and they’re not easily removable without damaging the drywall. In general, salvaging material from construction demolition isn’t worth the time, with some exceptions like copper. The metal and concrete will be recycled, everything else is garbage.

MisterTea 1y ago
If you have seen the film Brazil you will remember the scene where Harry Tuttle, a rogue heating engineer, removes a modular wall panel to service the equipment behind it. Now I know most homes have no need for such modularity and most people value aesthetics over practicality and prefer the seamless look, but I would totally want that in my home. Would make adding or moving wiring, fixtures and plumbing a breeze.
- SpicyUme 1y ago
  I've daydreamed about building a house with one, maybe two, channel areas midway up every wall for easy access to wiring and such. Possibly pipes as well, but that might not be needed. I've lived in places with wainscotting, incorporating the covers into that would work for me. Seamless walls don't always stay seamless anyway, but maybe I'm just over my plaster walls and the little cracks that form.
  - quickthrowman 1y ago
    Google ‘wall duct’ for a commercial raceway system that can be recessed into a wall and is suitable for both line and low voltage conductors, including both in the same raceway if you use a divider to separate the line and low voltage conductors. A less expensive option would be woodwork that covers a channel in the wall, romex and Cat6 cable don’t need a raceway so you could skip the wall duct. If you want to get fancy, add some hinges on the woodwork to allow for easy access :D
- quickthrowman 1y ago
  Great film, I’ve been meaning to watch it again :) There are lots of similar wall systems for commercial applications, google ‘wall panel system’ for some examples. It is super useful when you add something that is recessed in the wall later on. Gypsum wallboard aka drywall is used because it’s cheap, light, it’s easy to install, and easy and cheap to finish. For wiring at least, the wall itself isn’t the enemy, that’s easily navigable with a drill bit, multitool (or a rotozip, or a jab saw), and fish tape, it’s the dang ‘hardlid’ (drywall or wood, non-removable) ceilings that complicate things. ACT grid ceilings make adding receptacles, switches and jacks into a finished wall pretty easy, you just drill into top of the wall, cut an opening in the wall, and use a fish tape to pull in your wire or cable, and then put in your cut-in box or LV ring and your device or jack.
  - MisterTea 1y ago
    I have ran a lot of wiring in my time. Opening walls is simple. closing them up is a PITA. Little openings you need to patch, plaster, sand, paint. Days of work to cover a hole that takes seconds to make with a keyhole saw.

MisterTea 1y ago

If you have seen the film Brazil you will remember the scene where Harry Tuttle, a rogue heating engineer, removes a modular wall panel to service the equipment behind it. Now I know most homes have no need for such modularity and most people value aesthetics over practicality and prefer the seamless look, but I would totally want that in my home. Would make adding or moving wiring, fixtures and plumbing a breeze.

SpicyUme 1y ago
I've daydreamed about building a house with one, maybe two, channel areas midway up every wall for easy access to wiring and such. Possibly pipes as well, but that might not be needed. I've lived in places with wainscotting, incorporating the covers into that would work for me. Seamless walls don't always stay seamless anyway, but maybe I'm just over my plaster walls and the little cracks that form.
- quickthrowman 1y ago
  Google ‘wall duct’ for a commercial raceway system that can be recessed into a wall and is suitable for both line and low voltage conductors, including both in the same raceway if you use a divider to separate the line and low voltage conductors. A less expensive option would be woodwork that covers a channel in the wall, romex and Cat6 cable don’t need a raceway so you could skip the wall duct. If you want to get fancy, add some hinges on the woodwork to allow for easy access :D
quickthrowman 1y ago
Great film, I’ve been meaning to watch it again :) There are lots of similar wall systems for commercial applications, google ‘wall panel system’ for some examples. It is super useful when you add something that is recessed in the wall later on. Gypsum wallboard aka drywall is used because it’s cheap, light, it’s easy to install, and easy and cheap to finish. For wiring at least, the wall itself isn’t the enemy, that’s easily navigable with a drill bit, multitool (or a rotozip, or a jab saw), and fish tape, it’s the dang ‘hardlid’ (drywall or wood, non-removable) ceilings that complicate things. ACT grid ceilings make adding receptacles, switches and jacks into a finished wall pretty easy, you just drill into top of the wall, cut an opening in the wall, and use a fish tape to pull in your wire or cable, and then put in your cut-in box or LV ring and your device or jack.
- MisterTea 1y ago
  I have ran a lot of wiring in my time. Opening walls is simple. closing them up is a PITA. Little openings you need to patch, plaster, sand, paint. Days of work to cover a hole that takes seconds to make with a keyhole saw.