How to Remove Wallpaper from Drywall

Wallpapers give your rooms a certain ambiance, but changing or taking them off the walls can be a task in itself.  Some would even call it one.  A project such as this must therefore be approached with strategy.  With the proper tools and materials, you will be able to finish this "task" with ease.

You can't bear to look at that old wallpaper for one more minute.  It was fashionable 20-30 years ago, but it's now dated.  You want a clean slate on those walls, so you've decided to take off the old wallpaper.  With a bit of patience, taking down wallpaper can be easy and uncomplicated. Have a look at the application instructions below to find out how to remove wallpaper from drywall and how to make the new application a breeze.

Preparation for Wallpaper Removal

Even the best method to strip wallpaper quickly has some preparation involved.  When starting your wallpaper stripping process, follow these steps to prepare your room:

• Clear out the room: Learning how to take down old wallpaper means taking the right steps to prepare your space!  Begin by taking furniture away from the room or moving it to the center.  Cover it with drop cloths and weigh them down to the furniture with painter's tape if necessary.
• Lay drop cloths: Taking off older types of wallpaper will always leave water, usually combined with adhesive, falling to the baseboards and floor.  You will always want to wrap up any liable areas, especially if you have carpet.  Attempting to remove it later might be a real headache!
• Use electrical outlet covers: Because taking off wallpaper tends to involve liquid, you may choose to get outlet covers and put them over all of your electrical equipment during the removal process.
• Identify the type of wall and wallpaper: Understanding the type of wall (drywall versus plaster) and wallpaper (pre-pasted wallpaper versus vinyl wallpaper versus strippable wallpaper) is essential in identifying the best method to strip off wallpaper. You can usually sample a small, unnoticeable area in the corner to watch how smoothly the one-time layer of wallpaper peels off. If it peels off easily and regularly, you probably have a newer type of strippable wallpaper. Otherwise, you will have to employ one of the more advanced techniques outlined below to take it off.

If you're not certain what type of wallpaper you have, looking on the internet or asking someone at your local hardware store can help.  If you can get by without understanding how to remove wallpaper sealant, you will be prepared for this task!

Tips for Removing Wallpaper From Drywall

Removing Front and Back Layer

Gently pry off the top vinyl layer starting from a corner and pulling back to take off the whole top layer.  Once you peel off the top layer, what you will have left is merely the paper backing.  The top layer may be harder to peel off and might require additional tools or techniques.

Score the wallpaper

No matter what type of wallpaper you are stripping, a scoring tool will make it much easier.  It makes tiny holes in the wallpaper so that the remover solution can seep through it.  Just rub it over the area you are working on in a circular motion using equal pressure.

You are recommended to work in a space no wider than 4 feet.  This is to ensure that the remover solution does not dry out before you can remove the wallpaper and old paste.

Apply Steam to Wallpaper

Keep the steamer plate near the wallpaper surface without touching it.  Slowly move the steamer in a circular motion to let the steam penetrate the glue.

Scrape and Clean

Once the remover solution has sat and dissolved the wallpaper paste, begin scraping the walls clean.  The wallpaper seam is a good place to begin.  If the wallpaper continues to stick well, apply a bit more removal solution to the wall.

You might notice some old paste left behind when removing the old paper.  Just add a little extra remover to these areas, let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrape off the excess paste.

Once all the wallpaper and old paste are removed, clean the walls using the removal solution.  This will help eliminate any leftover wallpaper paste.

Remove Wallpaper Glue Residue

Once you have removed the wallpaper, there is some leftover wallpaper that stic,k then you should apply the glue. To vacate the wall, use a damp sponge or a mild wallpaper removal solution and follow the instructions on the package.

Conclusion

The content provided contains step-by-step instructions on how to effectively remove wallpaper from drywall.  We wish these concepts would make it easy for you to strip your wallpaper and obtain a clean look for your walls.

FAQs

What is the most comfortable way to extract wallpaper from drywall?

If you're working with drywall, be careful not to oversteam.  Remove the wallpaper with a putty knife.  If the steam will not pierce the wallpaper, score it with a scoring tool to make small holes.  Heat and scrape repeatedly until the wallpaper is removed completely.

Does removing wallpaper damage drywall?

The first step is to be conscious that you will presumably have some damage to your drywall, and restoring walls after wallpaper removal is unavoidable to some degree.

How to remove wallpaper border from drywall?

Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle and saturate the border with the solution. Wait 10 to 15 minutes and then use your putty knife or scraper to rub the harshness away from the wall.