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Best way to remove wallpaper?

mckylie
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We are closing next week. One of my first projects is to take down Wallpaper in the Master. The paper isn't bad looking and very neutral - almost looks like faux paint. But I want to paint all the walls in there. The good news is that it's only on one wall - yeah! I have never removed wall paper before so please give me your advice!

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November 02 - Paradise Valley

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2Rosie
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First pull the wallpaper off by hand the best you can.The work is removing the backing of the wallpaper that is glued to the wall.
There is a divise that can be purchased at any paint store. It might be called a "ripper" as stated above. It is a great tool for wallpaper removal. It's circuliar and fit's in your hand with your fingers gripping it. It has a bunch of teeth on the underside and using circular motions on the wall papewr you just maked circles all over the wallpaper and the "teeth"
score the wallpaper with little holes. The more the faster & easier things will go. The perforations or scoring allows solution to penitrate the paper and soften the glue. I purchased a botttle of "WP Chomp" at the paint store as well. It's a concentrate that I diluted with hot water. So you first score the wallpaper then spray it with your mixture wait 1 to 5 minutesand the paper will pull right off. I used a wide spackle knife (about 5" wide) and just scraped away. The paper just falls off. One tip thatIS IMPORTANT: You HAVE to remove the wallpaper BACKING as well as the wallpaper. It's very thin and hard to see at times.The "Chomp" worked so well with this. Just don't think you've removed the wallpaper unless you know you've gotten the backing too!

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November 12

adios az
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adios az

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I had a lot of success with the half fabric softener and half warm water method. The added benefit is your new house will smell great! Good luck with your move next week!!!!

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November 05

wetdawgs
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It depends on the type of paper. On many, you can simply take a spray bottle of warm water, spritz very thoroughly and then wait. After a while (10 or 15 minutes) it will peel off. Some wall papers have a coating on them and the water doesn't penetrate, then either scratch it so water will get through or start at top/bottom/side and spray bit by bit to keep getting to the glue.

Before you repaint, the glue must be 100% removed or you will have to prime with a sealing primer (your paint store can recommend the primer). The primer is very stinky and good for rotting your brain cells so make sure the house is well ventilated (and no explosive opportunities).

Removing wallpaper was far easier than I'd expected.

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November 03

Netizen
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Netizen

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Someone said they used a garmet steamer to loosen up the wall paper.

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November 03

Tiffany Bond, "TiffanyBond"
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Tiffany Bond, "TiffanyBond"

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It depends on how many layers there are. In my house I had to bust out the steamer because there were too many layers.

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November 03

sunnyview
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This article here reminded me of using a Paper Tiger. It works better on some types of wallpaper like vinyl or those with a slick coating on top, but it pokes little holes so the solution can get behind the paper to loosen the glue. They're pretty cheap. That aricle also has the solution for the fabric softener mix if you need it.

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November 03

Desislava
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use fabric softener and hot water. It has to get to the glue, so it helps to scratch the walpaper first. Let it sit for a couple of minutes (not dry) and then try to peel it off. This works great for removing the left over glue afterward, and the house smells so fresh :)

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November 03

sunnyview
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So exciting!!! Lots of good advice. Please take before and after photos. They are so satisfying to look back at later. I did that before I did my outside painting, hardscaping and landscaping. After looking at the before pics, now I know why no one but me wanted to buy my current house. Lots of fun to make it your own. I am so happy for you.

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November 03

Raymond Sinsley, "Timber Creek Const."
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Raymond Sinsley, "Timber Creek Const."

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Wow some good answers here, if you want to do a lot of work, that is completely unnecessary.

The sheet rock (drywall) will have to be re textured anyway after you remove the wall paper.
Leave the wall paper on the sheet rock and just tear the sheet rock off the wall and install new sheet rock.
Or an even simpler way to do it is to paint right over the wall paper with shellac based "Kilz" primer and then re texture the wall .

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November 03

Tim McLaughlin, "timothyrussell"
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Tim McLaughlin, "timothyrussell"

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Well, I find that the best way to remove wall paper is to start with very HOT water in a spray bottle or garden sprayer, saturate the paper and the glue will begin to let go, get a corner started and keep spraying so the hot water gets behind the paper and pull it off. Also DIF is a good product that will help loosen the paper. The sheetrock will be fine if it get's wet.

You may have some tough spots that need a razor blade scraper, and some spots may need a bit of spackle if the paper tears, you can do it.

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November 03

Eric Hempler, "erichempler"
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Eric Hempler, "erichempler"

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We bought a small steamer at Home Depot and found that to work the best. Then we used a putty knife to help peal it off the wall.

We didn't have any luck with any other products. I'm not sure if the age of the wall paper has anything to do with it or not. I know the stuff we removed was probably 40 years old and painted over.

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November 02

Nancy Lee, "An OrderLee Home"
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Nancy Lee, "An OrderLee Home"

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ripper, soapy warm water applied liberally and reapplied, time, time, time.....see a pattern here?

Like agentblu15 says, cleaning, drying, (I also sand lightly) the drywall once the paper is down is actually the hardest work...and really does have to be done carefully.

BTW - great news, I am glad the happy ending is approaching!

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November 02

agentblu15
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use a wallpaper ripper on the whole wall first, before applying the remover or soapy water. You can buy a ripper for no more than $10 at walmart or a home improvement store-- it basically perforates the surface of the paper with a bunch of tiny little cuts, which allows the remover to soak in better.

also, be PATIENT once you apply the remover. Let it sit for a while to really loosen the wallpaper adhesive before you try to scrape it off. If you try to scrape too soon, you'll pull the paper off, but the glue will remain stuck to the wall-- and that's much more difficult to remove. Once you get most of the paper off, spray the whole wall down again and go back over it with a scraper or putty knife, to get any of the little bits you missed.

Finally, make sure you wash, rinse, and dry the wall very well after you're done, before you start painting. The checmicals in the remover, or even just soap, will keep your paint from adhering well if you don't.

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November 02

Kelly Lacey, "kellylacey"
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Soapy water in a spray bottle. You can buy remover in stores, so I did that first. Did 1/2 the room using that. Ran out so I mixed dish soap and warm water and that worked just as well and cost a fraction of the "official" wallpaper remover! Just be patient and let the water work into the paper before trying to tear it off.

Have fun!

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November 02

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