Tips for Effectively Removing Wallpaper

If you’ve grown tired of the way your walls look or you’ve just moved into a new house that needs updated wallpaper, you are probably wondering if and how to improve the previous decor.

The prospect of painting over the wallpaper might instantly come to mind, but this isn’t a smart route to take. Even if you just need a quick fix before selling the house, this idea doesn’t work out. We’ve seen many homeowners who have tried it, and the final result is always visually unpleasant to say the least.

Your best option is to remove the wallpaper. Sometimes it is as easy as lifting an edge and pulling. But the majority of wallpapers are made up of 2-3 layers comprising the decorative outer part and one or two thinner layers at the back. That means that they can be harder to deal with than initially expected.

According to experts in home improvements, the more recent model strips quickly while the older ones then to stick stubbornly.

So what do you do? Fighting the fire with fire (initially, at least) is actually a reasonable strategy: since the glue that makes the paper adhere to the wall is water-soluble, the trick is to use moisture to allow the glue to dissolve.

Here are four easy steps to break it down:

If you happen to be blessed with extremely stubborn wallpaper, this might not be enough. Your wallpaper might simply refuse to just come off with the usual modern tricks. If you’ve got an extra challenging wallpaper situation, the only antidote is a good old-fashioned steam.

There’s a device called a wallpaper steamer, which can apply just the perfect quantity of moisture and cover a good size area. The results are impressive, especially if you get hold of a professional one (yes, you can even rent it out).

While this will surely strip down the wall, you still need to make sure there’s no glue left on the wall. If applying a new fresh coat of paint is your goal, you need to have a clean canvas.

For best results, consider also buying sponges with grits on opposite sides, one for quick removal and one for a fine polish.

In conclusion, removing wallpaper can be extremely fast: a simple grab and pull matter. Or it can be a bit troublesome and make you get your hands busy and dirty. If you would like to get a professional opinion on how to best go about your wallpaper removal project and if it makes sense to hire professional help, call us or contact us for a free consult.