Hanging wallpaper is really not that hard of a job. Removing it, can be hard, especially removing it carefully and without damaging the wall underneath the paper. But it must be done sometime. The wallpaper will fade. The wallpaper may rip. You just may getting tired of looking at the wallpaper. When it comes time to remove it try following some of these simple tips.
First, remember these two words, gentleness and patience. This are the two key ingredients you must use when you start removing it. You have to work slowly and with little pressure. You don’t want to damage the wall.
Now you must decide what method you are going to use to remove it. There are a few methods such as steaming and spraying chemicals onto the wallpaper to help kill the adhesive that is holding it onto the wall. Which method is the best? It depends on who you ask. Steamers are not used as much as they once were. Spraying chemicals onto the wallpaper is the popular choice in removing it.
First, get some plastic sheeting or a cloth to cover your floor, to protect your carpet.
Next, get some chemical wallpaper remover (if this is your choice on how to remove the wallpaper), knives and scrapping tools and a damp sponge.
Before you really begin, it is advised to test a small area of the wallpaper first. You may want to choose a strip that is hidden, say behind a door. Now peel back some of the wallpaper and look at the wall behind you. Can you tell what type of grain the wall is? Does it go up and down or left to right?
Now spray a small amount onto the wallpaper, according to the directions of the chemical you are using. Some chemicals that are used to remove wallpaper advise you to spray on the remover and then wait a few minutes or up to 15 minutes before actually trying to remove the paper.
When it is time, slowly start peeling off the wallpaper. If it isn’t coming off easily, you may have to spray the chemical once more.
Now try to remove it again. Remember you also have to remove all the backing that held the paper to the wall from the wall. If you can’t remove it by hand, you may need to use a scrapping tool or a knife. Again, apply gentle pressure to the tool you are using.
If you happen to remove one piece of wallpaper and find another piece of wallpaper instead of drywall or paste board, remove each piece of wallpaper separately, no matter how many sheets are plastered together. If you try to remove it all at once, you could easily damage the wall.
Once all the wallpaper and the backing seems to be removed gently, spray a light spray of the chemical onto the wall and gentle scrap one more time, to make sure there is no backing or backing residue remaining. Now take a damp sponge and wipe down all the walls. Allow the walls to dry for a few days.
While the walls are drying you can now decide what to do with them. You can paint them, stain them, hang paneling over them, hang more wallpaper onto them or just some wallpaper borders. The choice is all yours.
