You can fill the holes left by shelves, wall cabinets and brackets but to get the best finish you need to know how to get Rawl plugs out of a wall. They can leave a raised surface that can be hard to hide and it will take more time and effort than simply removing and filling.
By their very nature Rawl plugs are there to make sure that you get a strong and secure hold when drilling into brick and other materials. This can make it difficult to remove them. Here we look at the different options to remove Rawl plugs and make sure that you don’t damage the surface where they exist.
Mark Irving
With over 20 years of experience in the building sector, Mark led Build & Plumb’s expansion into online marketplaces. Over the years working for Build & Plumb Mark has developed a wealth of knowledge surrounding building and renovating that he enjoys sharing with others who are looking to complete their own building projects.
How to get Rawl plugs out of a wall
1. Insert screw into Rawl plug
Mark Irving, online sales manager at Build & Plumb says, “Start by taking your screw and using your fingers to screw it into the opening of the Rawl plug.” Once the screw grips the Rawl plug it's time to get out your screwdriver, “Then using a screwdriver or drill gently screw the rest of the screw into the Rawl plug, making sure that it's not screwed all the way into the plug.”
He adds a tip to make the job easier, “It's a good idea to use a screw that is slightly bigger than the Rawl plug to allow it to grip onto the inside of the plug.”
2. Get the hammer out
With the screw firmly in place it's time to get out your hammer as Irving shares, “Now take a claw hammer and position the v shaped prongs over the section of screw that is sticking out of the wall." Once the hammer is in place he says, “Slowly pull back on the claw hammer to release the screw,” He adds, “You should notice as the screw comes further out the wall that the Rawl plug is released with it.”
He adds, “Continue to gently pull the claw hammer until the screw and Rawl plug are fully removed from the wall."
3. Stop damage
To prevent damage to the wall Irving says, “Pull the claw hammer very gently, as using too much force could result in pulling off chunks of plaster from the wall”. If you are struggling to get the Rawl plug out of the wall – and it’s causing damage to the wall – try using a piece of scrap material under the hammer. A thin piece of timber like hardboard, or plasterboard should do the job.
Get these tools to remove and hide Rawl plugs
Ryobi One+ Cordless Combi Drill Starter Kit
The combi drill kit comes with a cordless combi drill, 1.5Ah Lithium Ion battery and a 46-piece mixed accessory set including 11 x HSS drill bits and 3 x masonry bits.
Stanley 16oz Fiberglass Curved Claw Hammer
A strong general purpose hammer with a fiberglass shaft for additional strength and durability. An anti-slip grip is designed for improved comfort.
Tetrion All Purpose Powder Filler
Ideal for a multitude of repair jobs around home this interior filler cab be used on wood, plaster and more. It has a high bonding strength and a smooth finish.
Alternative options for removing Rawl plugs
A claw hammer is typically the first choice for removing a Rawl plug. But if you don’t have a hammer handy there is another option as Irving shares, “If you don’t have access to a claw hammer then you can use pliers to remove the Rawl plug. Simply, clamp down the pliers onto the screw and gently pull until the Rawl plug is released.”
However, he adds a word of warning, “This can be a more time consuming process than using a claw hammer and it may require more strength to grip the pliers, but it will be just as effective”.
Other hacks include using a corkscrew, which can be effective, but will depend on the size of the Rawl plug. Too small and you will struggle to get it out. Another option is to use a drill bit, and drill out the Rawl plug. Or you can push the Rawl plug further in (if possible) and cover with a wall filler.
FAQs
How do you remove plasterboard fixings?
The best plasterboard fixings can be difficult to remove, but still possible. Irving says, “Start by taking a sharp knife and gently scoring around the edge of the wall plug. This will ensure that the plasterboard isn’t attached to the edge of the wall plug, so that no chunks of plasterboard are dislodged when removing the wall anchor.”
He adds, “Then follow the same process by screwing a screw partially into the wall anchor and using pliers pull the screw and wall anchor out of the wall.”
If struggling to get the fixing out Irving says, “Cut off the head of the wall anchor and push the remaining wall anchor into the wall, filling the hole with wall putty to conceal the opening.”
If you have a metal plasterboard fixing like these Heavy Duty Metal PLASTERBOARD Cavity Wall FIXINGS from Amazon, Irving says, “Start by spraying a small amount of lubricant, like WD40, onto the metal.” He adds, “This will help to loosen the wall anchor and allow for easier removal. Then using needle-nose pliers pull the head of the wall anchor from the wall until it slides out.”
If the fixing is proving difficult to remove it's a better idea to push it into the wall. Irving shares how to do this. “Start by bending the head of the wall anchor until it comes off and then push the remaining anchor straight into the wall.” To finish, he adds, “Make sure to finish by sanding the surface of the plasterboard and filling the rest of the hole with wall putty.”
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Steve Jenkins is a freelance content creator with over two decades of experience working in digital and print and was previously the DIY content editor for Homebuilding & Renovating.
He is a keen DIYer with over 20 years of experience in transforming and renovating the many homes he has lived in. He specialises in painting and decorating, but has a wide range of skills gleaned from working in the building trade for around 10 years and spending time at night school learning how to plaster and plumb.
He has fitted kitchens, tiled bathrooms and kitchens, laid many floors, built partition walls, plastered walls, plumbed in bathrooms, worked on loft conversions and much more. And when he's not sure how to tackle a DIY project he has a wide network of friends – including plumbers, gas engineers, tilers, carpenters, painters and decorators, electricians and builders – in the trade to call upon.
