Tips for throwing out wallpaper and its glue all together

There’s no avoiding it; it’s time to remove that wallpaper that seems to be welded onto the wall, maybe more than one wall if you’re unlucky. As we are nice people we’ve decided to write an article about doing the dreaded job of removing wallpaper. It isn’t as horrid as you might think, so take a deep breath, and read some of our tips of how to take the wallpaper off without the fuss.

Some wallpaper can be removed easily, so start by using a blunt knife under the paper at the edge. If it comes off easily, peels in a long sheet and leaves no adhesive residue, then your job will be a simple one. Jumping straight into the job is where a lot of overly enthusiasts go wrong. Starting with a small sample area will give you a better idea of what sort of state your current wallpaper is in. If it’s welded on then you need to take a different approach.

If you follow these tips and use the suggested tools and products the wallpaper should bubble off the wall easily. If it doesn’t, chances are the drywall behind the paper was not properly primed or sized. When that's the case, the adhesive used has impregnated the facepaper of the drywall, making it nearly impossible to remove without damaging the drywall. This needs professional intervention, which will be noted at the end of this article.

Use warm water to soften the old paste. Also use liquid detergent, leave for five –ten minutes, then scrape and lift off the old paper. Scoring wallpaper that was made to be washable or wipeable will help to penetrate the tough exterior. A serrated scraper or fork will do the job.

A good weapon to have at your disposal: DIF wallpaper removal concentrate. Mix the DIF with hot water – not too hot, to avoid burning yourself – as it will work faster with hot water than cold. Ensure that the Dif doesn’t dry onto the wall. Our advice is to use a spraying device so it can be spread over the wall to cover it rapidly.

To tackle the paper that just refuses to budge, use a steam wallpaper stripper. When you budget check around for places to hire one and set some of your finances aside for this. My general rule is that saved time is saved money, and it’s also good for keeping additional stress—related grey hairs at bay. In extreme cases, you may have to use chemicals, but I urge you to think carefully, and consider this a very last resort. Chemicals are not only abrasive to your wall but to your skin. Repeat one of the earlier tips before you take this route.

Give your treated wall at least fifteen minutes after you apply the hot water and DIF. It is a much easier job to remove larger pieces of wallpaper rather than little bits here and there. Vinyls are usually easier to peel off as it can be stripped off of its backing paper. Peel off the prepared wallpaper from the lower corner(s) one sheet at a time. If it all doesn’t come off, re-wet the walls, and leave for another ten minutes and repeat. If there are still some smaller pieces that refuse to move then use fabric softener and a paper scraper to finish the job.

Sometimes it remains an impossible task to get every single bit of wallpaper off before you tackle the next job or re-papering or painting. This is where priming the walls will help you restore the walls to their former glory and will give you an opportunity to check the general state of the walls so any gaps or holes can be filled in with putty.

If you are in any doubt, then you can use a man and van service to do the job for you. The fastest growing choice for packing, storing and man and van services is to use a professional house removal service. A professional house removal company in London will offer a range of trade services, including redecorating, and their staff are time served and fully trained in several competencies, and will be able to provide a range of other services that make them to best option that can offer everything under one roof.

Wasted time is wasted money. If you plan your budget you can get the job done as fast and efficiently as possible, ready to get onto the next task of redecorating.

Taken from: Guest Post (article, By Rony Mikal), Google (images).