Help! Home DIY'er No0b

[RaistlinZ]

First off, I know nothing when it comes to home repair. Nevertheless, I want to repaint my living room. The previous owner had shelves on the wall that apparently were held in place by these screws below. The screws seem to go about an inch deep into the wall, and I can't pull them out further than shown without it bumping up against something.

Anyone know the proper way to get these bastards out without butchering a huge area around it? I was hoping I could just pull them out and cover up the area with a little spackle, but now I'm not so sure. :'(

 

[highland145]

Wack them back in and spackle.

 

[Mxylplyx]

those are wall anchors anchored against the backside of the drywall. Go ahead and yank them out. It will pull out some drywall with it, but you have to repair the hole regardless. Use some drywall spackle to fill the hole. Fill, let dry, sand smooth, repeat 2-3 times, and then paint over it.

 

[IronWing]

Take the screws out of the anchors and push the anchors through the wall. They will fall down inside the wall and be out of sight, out of mind for generations to come*. If needed, cut the heads off the anchors before pushing them through.




* <== Not responsible for any fires resulting from electrical shorts caused by falling anchors.

 

[highland145]

those are wall anchors anchored against the backside of the drywall. Go ahead and yank them out. It will pull out some drywall with it, but you have to repair the hole regardless. Use some drywall spackle to fill the hole. Fill, let dry, sand smooth, repeat 2-3 times, and then paint over it.

Why make a bigger hole to fill? Just knock them into the wall cavity and the hole isn't any larger.

 

[IronWing]

Why make a bigger hole to fill?. Just knock them into the wall cavity and the hole isn't any larger.

^^ He's responsible for any fires resulting from electrical shorts caused by falling anchors.

 

[highland145]

^^ He's responsible for any fires resulting from electrical shorts caused by falling anchors.

Wall anchors...

Or boat anchors?

And if he cuts them off, he still has falling wall anchors.

And, if he's real worried, he could look to see if an outlet is below the anchor.

 

[vi edit]

That looks like a screw in wall anchor. It's basically a big, fat nasty screw that has been threaded into the drywall. Not really a graceful way to go about removing it. Unscrew as far as you can, then get a big set of pliers and start to gently rock it out.

If it's drywall and they are close enough together you could just take a utility knife and cut them out together and then patch it up with a scab piece of drywall and sand/repaint.

 

[IronWing]

Wall anchors...

Or boat anchors?

What I want to know is why the glassmaker stuck an anchor up his nose in the first place.

 

[highland145]

What I want to know is why the glassmaker stuck an anchor up his nose in the first place.

No idea but I did note your liability edit.

 

[IronWing]

That looks like a screw in wall anchor. It's basically a big, fat nasty screw that has been threaded into the drywall. Not really a graceful way to go about removing it. Unscrew as far as you can, then get a big set of pliers and start to gently rock it out.

If it's drywall and they are close enough together you could just take a utility knife and cut them out together and then patch it up with a scab piece of drywall and sand/repaint.

I'm pretty sure it's a wing anchor. It is difficult to remove one once the wings spread.

 

[highland145]

I'm pretty sure it's a wing anchor. It is difficult to remove one once the wings spread.

Yeah, that's going to leave a hole.

OP should just move.

Is the anchor plastic?

 

[vi edit]

n/m

 

[vi edit]

Actually upon second inspection, yeah that does look like a toggle anchor. Did the OP remove a screw from the middle?

You might be able to get a coat hanger with a hook formed on the end in there and pull the toggle back against the sleeve enough to pluck them out.

They look like this:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_68734-2191-25320_0__?productId=3323542

 

[NutBucket]

Looks like the OP likely has these:

http://www.easyanchors.com/img/pdf's/specspdfs/togg_specSheet.pdf

No real way to get them out without making the hole bigger.

 

[skyking]

Look again man. Those are cast anchors, I used a couple last year. The screw goes in, and folds out the point from a central pivot to each side.

 

[smackababy]

Looks like the OP likely has these:

http://www.easyanchors.com/img/pdf's/specspdfs/togg_specSheet.pdf

No real way to get them out without making the hole bigger.

This is what I believe the OP has.

Only real option is to rip them out. You won't do that much more damage. And if you're considering fixing it anyway, who cares? Oh my god! You might have to Spackle over a slightly larger hole in your wall before you paint it!

 

[RaistlinZ]

Thanks for the quick responses. I dug out some space around it and just pushed it into the wall. Hopefully it'll look fine when I spackle over it.

 

[dmcowen674]

Why make a bigger hole to fill?

Just knock them into the wall cavity and the hole isn't any larger.

This

 

[Scarpozzi]

I would try to remove them instead of knocking them into the wall...those things hold really well and cost money...I save the metal anchors when I can.

Take a phillips screwdriver and put it in the hole.....get a small pair of plyers and as you turn it counter-clockwise with the screwdriver, pry the large threads with the plyers.

The anchor will pull out after the part that expands gets enough pressure to release....with the screw removed, there's nothing holding the expansion parts out...

 

[skyking]

Thanks for the quick responses. I dug out some space around it and just pushed it into the wall. Hopefully it'll look fine when I spackle over it.

Looks good, git er done now !

 

[IronWing]

Thanks for the quick responses. I dug out some space around it and just pushed it into the wall. Hopefully it'll look fine when I spackle over it.

Why did you do that? We weren't done arguing.

 

[highland145]

Why did you do that? We weren't done arguing.

Well, I'm still waiting for the glass maker's story.

 

[IronWing]

Well, I'm still waiting for the glass maker's story.

So am I.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I'm pretty sure it's a wing anchor. It is difficult to remove one once the wings spread.

Yep, they are.

OP try to put a screw in it and back it out slowly, it might retract (but chances are low).

When you rip it out, expect a BIG hole.

You are better off pushing them into the hole and letting them drop....smaller hole.