Removing Wall Paper

Difficulty - Very Difficult

Tools Needed

Wallpaper Scraper
Score
Dif
Bucket
Rags
Drop Cloths
Brushes
Rollers
Roller Sleeves
Oil Primer (slow dry)
Bucket
Wallpaper Removal Iron
Sandpaper
Spackle


You now have some wallpaper that really needs to be removed because it is pealing or just has no appeal. Every paint contractor will come accross these types of projects, which no two are ever the same. However, if you as a DIY person plan on commiting to the project it must be done right. Removing wallpaper is no easy task and should it be, well, then consider yourself extremely lucky!

Many times will get a call from a client that they have tried to remove the wallpaper themselves and just ripped the wall all apart revealing the underlayer of sheetrock and have admited defeat. What a mess, and the cost to repair has now doubled. Should you find that you cannot remove the wallpaper STOP and call a professional before you cost yourself some hefty financial grief!

Ok, so you want to give it a go, what will you need and how will you attack the project at hand? There are various tools in the world of wall paper removal. It will depend on what is going on as to what tool will be used and what technique you will facilitate. The main tools in the arsenal will be some Dif liquid removal solution, a bucket, warm water, a 9 inch roller, a 9 inch roller sleeve, a wallpaper scraper, a wallpaper score, a wallpaper iron, rags, drop clothes, plastic sheeting for carpet, garbage bags, a 9 inch paint pan, some sand paper, rags and patience.

To prepare cover all furniture with the drops and carpet with the carpet poly sheets that stick and stretch, then cover the poly with a drop cloth. Prepare your dif solution have your garbage bags ready and take a deep breath!

Let's begin.Usually the wallpaper has two layers so you will need to see if you can remove the top layer of paper. Shouls the top layer not come off you will need to score it or sand it with sandpaper. At this point you can test an area by wetting it with the dif solution that has been diluted properly with warm water. The solution can be applied with a roller by pouring it in a paint pan. Wait ten minutes, apply again and wait ten minutes more before begining to remove the paper with your scraper. Should the blade cut into the sheetrock just flip the blade around so the dull end is what you are working with and apply pressure in a direction across the wallpaper. The process may need to be applied multiple times. Try to avoid ripping away at the sheetrock, although sometimes this may not be avoidable. You may try the iron as a last resort.

Once the paper is down you may use a rag soaked with the dif solution to wipe away as much glue as you can that may be left on the wall, sometimes there is alot in which you can soak it and use the scraper.

With the paper off and the wall dry you will now need to sand the wall down slightly and prime it with the oil primer which will seal in any glue residue on the wall (this is an extremely important step ). Give it a full 24 hours at which you may then fill in any spots with spackle or skim coat the wall if needed. Once that has been completed you will then smooth it all out by sanding and spot prime the spackle with a primer of your choice. That's it and your ready to paint!