Wallpaper removal can be one of the most time consuming and annoying tasks associated with home improvement, especially when something that is so simple can actually be so difficult. Luckily, you’re just a few simple steps from removing wallpaper quickly and easily so you can change the wall covering to something more updated or just plain more your style.
A few simple tools are necessary to remove wallpaper. In order to remove the wallpaper from the walls, begin by getting the following items together:
— Razor / Utility Knife
— Screw Driver
— Plastic paint tarps or drop cloths
— Putty Knife
— Sponge
— Towels or rags that you can throw away or reuse for similar projects
— Wallpaper remover solution
— Paint tray
Step 1
Begin by prepping the room for wallpaper removal. You want to assure that your belongings and anything inside of the room, including the flooring and any cabinetry are covered and safe from the chemicals to be used in the wallpaper removal process. Use the paint tarps to cover furniture that you do not wish to move out of the room and also to cover the cabinetry and the floors. This will assure that your belongings are protected during the wallpaper removal process.
Step 2
Begin removing the wallpaper from the walls by using the razor or utility knife to gently scrape a corner edge of the paper loose from the wall and then use your hands to pull the wallpaper down off the wall. Of course this wallpaper removal technique will not always work depending on how well the wallpaper is still adhered to the wall. It’s best to try to remove the wallpaper this way first and get as much of the wallpaper off the wall as you can.
When trying to pull the wallpaper off the wall, use a slow and steady tension and do not try to force the paper off. If you pull the wallpaper off the wall at an angle you will have better luck with getting large sheets of the wallpaper off at a time. A putty knife may also be used to scrape between the wallpaper and the wall once you have already got a piece of wallpaper partially removed. This may loosen the glue a bit and allow you to remove more wallpaper with one pull.
Step 3
Of course it couldn’t all be that easy! While you may be able to remove a lot of the wallpaper without water, tools or other chemicals it’s likely that you will have to resort to plan B for at least some of the wallpaper removal. Using the razor knife, create hash marks or score marks along the remaining wallpaper that is on the walls. Use the knife to cut through the paper gently and create a way for water to seep through the paper and dissolve some of the wallpaper glue.
Using a sponge and warm water, wet the wallpaper that you scored and then use a putty knife to begin scraping the wallpaper off of the wall. Unfortunately, this wallpaper removal technique can get a little messy but it does work quite well, and that’s why you placed tarps all over all your personal belongings, the floors and the cabinetry before you started the wallpaper removal project.
Step 4
Some wallpaper adhesives are not water soluble and will not respond well to the above wallpaper removal technique of scoring the paper and then soaking with water to loosen the glue. These types of wallpaper will require a stronger agent to remove the paper from the wall. Wallpaper removers that are chemical based can be purchased at the local home improvement store and can help to strip the wallpaper from the wall.
Using the wallpaper remover, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to remove the wallpaper. Most of the time, the wallpaper remover will need to be rolled on with a paint roller and then allowed to sit on the wall for a specified period of time before you begin trying to peel or scrape the wallpaper off the wall using the same techniques for removing wallpaper that were previously listed.
Step 5
Once you have done the dirty work of removing all the wallpaper from around the room you can begin to clean up the area and prep for another wall covering. You will want to make sure that you have cleared all of the wallpaper pieces and any wallpaper adhesives that remain on the walls. Use a wet washcloth or old rag and gently scrub any remaining wallpaper pieces or glue from the walls.
After removing the wallpaper from the walls you will likely have some repairs or patchwork that must be done as a result of the scraping of the wallpaper to remove it from the wall. After you have made repairs you will apply a texture coat to the walls and then prime for paint. If you will be applying new wallpaper to the walls then there is limited need to repair scrapes and there’s no need to prime or paint.
