Wallpaper Removal Tips

We recently had to remove wallpaper from a wall that had not been sealed, or primed, properly prior to papering. It was a huge headache, and it wasn’t until I was well into my third day of frustration that I thought to spend some time on the Internet with a cup of coffee. Once I knew what to do the job went much faster.

Assemble the Tools You Will Need

You can save yourself some stress, and maybe even an unplanned trip to Home Depot, if you assemble the tools you need before you start.

• Ladder
• Drop cloths, plastic, or sheets
• Garbage bags
• Bucket
• Garden sprayer
• Sponge, rags, towels
• Sandpaper
• Screwdriver
• Box to put switch covers and screws in
• Painter’s tape
• Wallpaper-perforating tool
• Gel wallpaper-removal solvent, warm water mixed with vinegar in a spray bottle, or fabric softener solution
• Paint roller
• Squeegee
• Scraping tool, such as a flexible three-inch putty knife
• Safety glasses or goggles
• Protective gloves
• Battery-operated lighting if you will be working at night

Turn the electricity to the room off before you start. Remove the switch covers and tape the screws to the back of them. Put them in the box and set aside. Cover the floor and any furniture with drop cloths to protect it.

Removing Vinyl-coated Papers

Vinyl-coated wallpapers are the wallpapers found in most homes today. The vinyl surface of the paper is often dry strippable. This means that the surface will easily separate from the backing, leaving just the paper backing on the wall. Start by pulling the facing from a loose corner and pull off as much of the vinyl as you can. You may need to use a putty knife to help loosen it.

The backing that is left will need to be wet down to remove. Fill a large bucket with hot water and add a capful of fabric softener. Double check to make sure that the electricity is turned off to the room you are working in. Apply the mixture with a garden sprayer, using a sponge in the corners as needed. Really soak the wall in three- or four-foot sections at a time. You can also apply the water with a paint roller or sponge.

Go get a cup of coffee and relax for ten minutes. Now you can begin to remove the backing by scraping the wet, sticky mess up with a scraper. Try to put it immediately in trash bags, it will stick to the floor and anything else it lands on.

General Wallpaper Removal Tips

Another way to remove the wallpaper if it seems to be peeling easily away from the wall is to roll it on a dowel. This will only work with paper that is peeling easily. Loosen the entire top of a section of wallpaper. Curl it around a dowel that you hold horizontally. Apply a little pressure to pull more of the section from the wall, and continue to roll it around the dowel, working your way down the wall. If this works, it is the cleanest way to deal with wallpaper removal.

If you live in an old house, you may find another layer of paper under the first. In this case you will need to take the wallpaper off one layer at a time. It may actually be easier to remove because the paper and adhesives used in the past were less tenacious than the ones used now.

You may find that for some reason your wallpaper can’t be removed and you will need to prime over it. If this is the case be sure to use oil-based primer or the primer will cause the wallpaper to blister and peel. If you have a raised design on the paper it will show through the paint, even after the wall is primed and painted.

Here are some more wallpaper removal tips:

• Score the paper backing with a stripper, a putty knife, coarse sandpaper, or a razor blade, to make the water soak in easier.
• Use extremely hot water in your solution.
• Make the slits about ten inches apart.
• Wear a mask if using chemical strippers.
• Hold the flex blade wall stripper at a thirty-degree angle when stripping.
• If the walls are straight drywall do not soak them.
• Rent a steamer to shorten the process. You will still need to scrape. Use goggles for safety.
• Be careful not to gouge the wall.
• Use a squeegee to remove excess adhesive.
• Once the wall dries, use sandpaper to carefully remove any adhesive you missed.
• Wipe down the wall with a rag dampened with vinegar and water.
• Be prepared to hire a professional. A contractor who is experienced in wallpaper stripping will get the job done easily, and in less time, that the average do-it-yourselfer.

Once the paper is removed, give the wall time to dry. Examine it for adhesive residue, dents or damage that may have happened while the wallpaper was being removed, or even before. Now is the time to locate and repair any damage to the wall. Repair any holes with putty or by patching. Priming the wall will give a smooth surface for paint or new wallpaper.

By following these wallpaper removal tips you can give a new look to your room and add value to your home.