Tips and Techniques for Removing Old Wallpaper

Removing old wallpaper could be one of the least projects to look forward to when beginning a home improvement job. Yet it is far better to remove it then to paper over it, or worse, paint over it. So, the best approach to the issue is to have a plan of attack, which is what this tip offering is all about.

If luck be with you and the old wallpaper is of the fabric kind, this job won't take long and far less labor intensive. Just lift up a lower corner with a scraper and pull upward. There's a good chance that the old wallpaper will come off clean leaving very little residue in it's wake.

If the old wallpaper is indeed paper, then the effort is likely to be considerably greater. The key to removing old wallpaper that is paper, is to dissolve the paste glue that binds it to the wall. There is a splendid formula for this and it consists of warm water along with a wetting agent. Wetting agents such as surfactants that are found in liquid laundry detergents are one example, and they have been known to do the trick at times. Other types of these agents that are more task specific, can be purchased at your local home and hardware center.

In terms of application, you want to use generous amounts and if any spots appear dry afterward, give these areas an extra soaking. Let the wet wallpaper set for ten minutes or so. When it is time, use a thin broad knife or scraper under a seam and the old wallpaper should peel off in strips. Use more water if needed and more wait time if necessary.

Most styles and brands of wallpaper can be removed in the manners described, but there are some washable types that can be more difficult, if not just plain different. Having been made with plastic or even some metal, they are designed to resist water. If these types of wallpaper can not be removed by simply pulling them off, then another means to break them down must be employed.

One such means to remove old wallpaper that is made of these plastics and metals is to first give them a hearty sanding with course sandpaper. This will breakdown the resistance of the wallpaper and then, the water and wetting agent method should be the coup de' gras!

Nothing is fresher in a room than new walls that have been repapered. Use sizing compound before papering on new wall and the next time you remove the old wallpaper, it will be a snap!

Remember, always work safely.