Expert Tips on How to Remove Wallpaper

Few design features are more attention-grabbing than wall coverings, which is why it’s so important to ensure that your wallpaper reflects your individual taste and style. The right pattern or texture can make a grand decorative statement, but there’s no reason to live with a design that sends the wrong message. Getting rid of dated, faded or tacky wallpaper is easier than you might think. These tips on how to remove wallpaper from Handyman Connection of Eden Prairie can help you wipe the slate clean so that you can achieve that personalized look you want for your home.

Size Up the Job

Before getting started, you’ll need to identify the type of paper hanging on the wall. Some wallpaper products are strippable, which makes them easy to remove by hand with help from a putty knife. Test the material by prying up an edge in the corner to see if the paper lifts away in sheets. Wallpaper that was secured to the wall with commercial adhesive requires a few more steps, but today’s modern wallpaper removers can help you make short work of the job.

Prepare the Room

Clear away furniture from the room and cover the floor with a drop cloth or plastic sheet. Use masking tape to secure the floor covering to the baseboards. Shut off the electrical power to the room, and then remove switch plates and outlets from the walls. Prep the wall for paper removal by running a scoring tool over it in overlapping circles. This makes it easier for the remover to penetrate the paper.

Apply the Wallpaper Remover

Following the instructions on the product’s package, mix a concentrated gel or liquid wallpaper remover with hot water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle or garden sprayer, and then coat a section of the wallpaper with a fine mist. Keep circling the room until you’ve applied three coats of the solution to every wallpaper surface. The paper is ready to remove when it comes off easily with a light scrape.

Strip the Wallpaper

While wearing protective gloves, work a wallpaper scraper or putty knife under the top edge of a soaked panel, and then use your hands to peel the paper down and away from the wall. If any remaining adhesive residue doesn’t wash away easily with a sponge, apply an additional coat of wallpaper remover solution. It may take some light scraping or sanding to remove all traces of glue.

Clean-Up Chores

Whether you plan to re-paper the walls or paint them, a clean surface is critical. Using warm water and a sponge mop, wash the walls immediately after removing the paper and adhesive. Let the walls dry for at least 24 hours before applying your new wall treatment.

Sticky Situations

Although wallpaper removal is usually a straightforward process, difficulties can occasionally arise, such as when the wall has several layers of paper. For tough jobs, you may need to rent a steamer or get help from a professional to get the job done. Fortunately, the experts at Handyman Connection of Eden Prairie are here to help if you encounter any problems. In fact, we’re happy to tackle the entire project for you, so can the enjoy quality results you want without lifting a finger.