Removing Wallpaper, Simple Tips And Techniques

Removing wallpaper, ah, the headaches, the layers of wallpaper to be removed, the mess all over the floor, and the frustration of ever thinking you wanted to change on your walls. Does this sound like something you have gone through? I have to admit I have had several bouts with stripping wallpaper over the years. I have made some of the mistakes but also in previous homes, owners just decided to put wallpaper over wallpaper, over another layer of wallpaper. How do we combat this problem and turn that out of date or torn paper into a room that is stunning and relaxing? Three words definitely comes to mind, PRIME THE WALLS!

I wanted to share with you my experiences and what not to do and what tips could help save you frustration and time. I will admit to you that years ago I would go ahead and paper a room and was more interested in getting the project done. I didn't take necessary steps ahead of time, and in three years when I was ready to change the look of the room, the nightmare began of taking off the paper. Over the course of the years I have learned through many frustrating experiences, and working as a designer, and working in a wall paper and design environment. Here are a few basic tips for you to think about before you start your removing wallpaper.

1. Assess your walls ahead of time - how many layers of wallpaper are on the wall?



2. Is there any indication the wall was primed ahead of time?



3. If there is a border, was the border properly hung?



4. Do you know if the paper was pre pasted or not?



5. What tools and materials are you going to need to do this project?

You have decided to change the room. Now it is time to begin to remove the existing wallpaper. I will walk through some basic steps of removing wallpaper.

1. Gather all the material necessary to do this project:
   
   Old sheet or shower curtain to protect your floors -
   
   Sponge, rags, and old towels -
   
   Putty knife or some type of tool that will gently scrape walls and not damage them.
   
   Option of a safe removal material - there are good products available today.
   
   Ladder
   
   Garbage bags to put old paper in



2. You will either use a commercial wallpaper remover or you can also wet the walls with warm water. Either way, what you are trying to accomplish is to get the backing free from the wall. Work from top to bottom and do a section of a wall at a time. Let the water or product soak into the paper.



3. Once the moisture is in tack, take your tool and begin stripping the paper at the very top. The key is to find the seams of each piece of paper. Of course we all want each strip of wallpaper to come off in one piece, but it doesn't happen that way all the time. I remember Tom and I taking off wallpaper in a room and there would be little sections at a time coming off. Patience and persistence is the key.



4. Don't rush to get this part of the project done. You want to avoid damaging the wall, as this will end up being a lot more work for you down the road. If the wall is damaged, you can take the necessary steps after the paper is down to get the wall prepared for new paper or paint. You will want to after removing the paper, prepare your walls the proper way.



5. Once all the wallpaper is removed, I will wait a few hours or even a day to let the walls dry out and basically get some air. This is also a nice little break for you.



6. Once the walls are dry, go ahead a prepare the walls by filling in any damaged area, and also remember, prime the walls!

Removing wallpaper can be a tough job if there are layers of paper on the wall or if the wall hasn't been primed. If you are buying a house, always ask the owners about any wallpaper you see on the walls. If you are building, talk to the builder if it is in your budget to have the builder or subcontractor paint or paper any walls. Taking these simple steps and being prepared, will save you time and money down the road. Also remember, there are many different styles of wallpaper and borders available today. If you are having trouble on deciding what type of paper will work best with your decor, feel free to contact me here at: indoor contact - let's talk decorating.

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