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Easier Wallpaper Removal
Wallpaper removal is easy. Well, maybe it's not really easy,
but I have good news for you. Yes, stripping wallpaper is
messy and it is time consuming. You would rather do almost
anything else. As a professional, my clients have often told
me that if not for the wallpaper removal, they would have
decorated the room themselves. It is such a deterrent.
While it is a hassle to remove, most people's real fears
center around damaging the wall while stripping the paper.
It's true. You can. I've spent as much time repairing that
damage. There is no reason that it has to happen, though. Once
you understand what is really happening below the surface,
wallpaper removal becomes quite simple. Let me talk you
through it.
First, KNOW that this is going to be a messy job. There is no
way around that. Bits and pieces of wet paper, covered in
adhesive, will end up stuck to everything that's not covered.
Fortunately, it cleans up easily with some soap and water.
We can minimize the extent of the mess, though, by taking the
time to place an inexpensive plastic drop cloth over the
furniture. Lay a rubber backed runner along the wall. Remove
everything hanging on the wall and make sure that the
furniture has been moved back from the wall by at least three
feet.
Okay, now that we have prepped our work area, what's next? We
need to discover what "group" we're in. To do this, start by
finding an edge and attempt to peel the paper off. Here's
where we either sink or swim. Some of the heavy vinyl and
fabric wall coverings will just peel right off.
Others will split, leaving a layer of plain paper on the wall.
What happens then is that when you try to tear off that layer,
it comes off in small pieces. A lot of specialty papers and
papers that have been painted over fall into this group. There
is a third group that we'll talk about in a few minutes.
If your wallpaper is in the first group, the wall coverings
that just peel right off, enjoy the rest of your day. You got
lucky. There are different strategies we can use for the other
two groups that will save you both time and money.
Now, for the other 99% of us, there are a number of different
products on the market that we could use to remove the
wallpaper. I have tried them all. Save your money. All we
really need is warm water.
Start by peeling off that top layer of paper. What's left on
the wall will be a layer of plain paper and adhesive. Apply
the water to the paper with a sponge, squirt bottle, garden
sprayer or whatever you have handy that will accomplish the
job. Use just enough to saturate the paper without water
running down the wall and making a mess.
Now for the really big secret to wallpaper removal: WAIT.
That's right, wait. Moisten the area again and wait some more.
It normally takes about 20 to 30 minutes for the saturated
paper to completely soften the adhesive beneath.
Next, use a 6" broad knife to remove the paper from the wall.
It should come off easily and in long strips. If it does not,
remoisten the paper and wait a few more minutes. Let the water
do all the hard work! By wetting the wall ahead of where you
are working, it is possible to move steadily around the room
once you get started.
Now, about that last group. You've watered and waited and
watered and waited. Frankly, this just isn't working and
you're becoming impatient. The problem is getting enough water
to penetrate the surface and completely saturate the core of
the wallpaper. There is a solution. We need to break up the
water resistant surface coating of the wallpaper without
harming the wall.
Now you might be tempted to start gouging at the wallpaper or
scraping it roughly. This is not a good idea. This is how you
damage the wall. Then you have to spend more money because you
have to call a contractor. You are also on his time schedule
now.
There are special tools made should you run into this problem.
I normally use a 36 grit sanding disc to abrade the surface by
hand. NOTE: Using a disc this coarse with a power tool will
destroy your wall. Make sure to use it manually only!
Rent a commercial wallpaper steamer. Steam passes through the
perforations made by the sanding disc. It is absorbed by the
paper and adhesive much quicker than water. Make repeated
passes over an area with the steamer until the core of the
paper becomes saturated and the adhesive softens. If an area
is being particularly stubborn, try going over it again with
the 36 grit disc to allow additional steam to penetrate the
paper.
Don't waste your time scraping at areas where the adhesive has
not yet softened. I cannot stress enough that this is how
walls get damaged. Steam the paper until the adhesive softens.
Remove the paper with your 6" broad knife. You should see good
results with the steamer.
So wallpaper removal is not always easy, but nobody said that
it has to be a painful experience either. Have a wallpaper
removal party and invite all your friends. Treat them to
dinner afterwards and make it a girls' day. Or how about a
contest with the kids. Always keep a picture in your mind (or
on the fridge) of how beautiful the job will turn out. Be
proud! Life is too short, so don't sweat the small stuff. Now,
let's get going!
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