How do I remove wallpaper?
by
Dana
+2
We're trying to remodel a house with five bedrooms and 3 baths that's been vacant more than 5 years thin paper wallpaper was applied directly on the drywall any ideas how to remove it quickly and easily I've try to steam it and the kits. it's still so so time consuming!
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First use a paper tiger, you can get it at Lowes or Home Depot. Run it along the wallpaper then spray the wallpaper with fabric softener and water, Let sit about 8 minutes. Then get a scraper, the wallpaper will come right off. Be sure to wash the walls down after you take the wallpaper off to get rid of the glue.
I do professional wall paper removal as a side line for over 40 years, and when the drywall is not primed or sized first, there is no easy way. I use liquid fabric softner in hot water and either spray it on with a garden sprayer or I prefer to use a large car sponge over a trough and slather it on. I first encase the whole floor in plastic tarps taped to the top of the baseboards and pads of newspaper along the walls to soak up excess and prevent slips. Put a large trash can in the center of the room and go for it.
I also score the paper and wet it with the softner/water mixture usually twice working in 4 foot sections letting one section let the mixture soak it for at least 20 mins while I work on a section wetted down previously. If the drywall paper tears up I skim coat the walls with drywall compound.
I use a 50/50 mix of vinegar and hot water in a spray bottle. If the walls were not primed or "sizedZ" it may not come off. That is the only time I recommend priming with Kilz primer and painting the wallpaper.
Peel as much as possible from the walls.
If you can't get to the backing, you may need to score the paper with a tool. Paper Tiger is easy to find. Light pressure because you don't want to damage the wall behind the paper.
Mix 50/50 fabric softener & warm water in a spray bottle or garden sprayer. I've read that vinegar is as effective but I have never used it.
Allow the mixture to sit for 5 - 10 minutes so that it saturates the adhesive on the paper backing.
Scrape with a plastic scraper.
Once it is all removed, wash the walls with warm soapy water (blue Dawn is my go-to) and a microfiber cloth.
Yes, this can be a very tedious job, requiring patience. Unfortunately, there is no one easy way to remove wallpaper that guarantees no damage to the drywall underneath it.
Read through the methods that other Hometalkers have tried, get a bunch of CD's to sing along with, then have another go at the the job.