Plastered in wall plug removal

[Alpha1]

Lucky me, moved into a new (to me) house and the previous owner has plastered over every wall plug in the house. Not trimmed down and plastered, just straight filler over the top. Some have been sanded down, some not. Either way its not good enough tl be painted over.

How would PH recommend removing them? The walls are plasterboard. Drill them out? Picture below for reference. There's 50 in the study alone....

[.:ian:.]

If theres just an air gap behind, tap them all the way in

[shtu]

My approach is,

Drive a suitably-large screw in a bit, maybe half an inch tops.
Lever them out with a claw hammer or small pry bar.

Most plugs are really easy to remove if you don't drive the screw in far enough to open the plug's wedge.

[LennyM1984]

Buy a countersink bit and just counter sink them into the wall

[silentbrown]

Either a pair of very fine nose pliers to grab them and pull them out, or a suitable size screwdriver/punch to push them all the way through the plasterboard?

[OutInTheShed]

I've pulled loads out with long nose pliers.
Others I've drilled out.

[ARH]

.:ian:. said:

If theres just an air gap behind, tap them all the way in

Exactly a suitable sized punch and knock them into the cavity, will do less damage than trying to pull them out.

[_Hoppers]

These sometimes work OK for removing wallplugs. Either this or tap them in further and filler over.

[RGG]

Can't resist a suggestion

1) 1st choice - a wood drill bit - same diameter - plug will come straight out - no damage to surrounding area

2) put a screw in and use claw hammer to lever out - use a block of wood against surrounding area to distribute force

[Griffith4ever]

Philips screwdriver, hammer.

Tap them all in a few more mm, re-fill, sand.

[mikey_b]

Griffith4ever said:

Philips screwdriver, hammer.

Tap them all in a few more mm, re-fill, sand.

^ This. Done it many dozens of times, always works.

[98elise]

shtu said:

My approach is,

Drive a suitably-large screw in a bit, maybe half an inch tops.
Lever them out with a claw hammer or small pry bar.

Most plugs are really easy to remove if you don't drive the screw in far enough to open the plug's wedge.

I'd do the same if it was one or two. For loads I'd just drill them as its quicker.

[mickk]

Who the heck left them in before making good in the first place?

[John D.]

mickk said:

Who the heck left them in before making good in the first place?

I don't understand the need to have made them good (or attempt to!) either.

[Panamax]

LennyM1984 said:

Buy a countersink bit and just counter sink them into the wall

^^ This. Quick, easy and effective.