Re-decorating part or all of a room can add new life to a property and create a more modern and stylish look without breaking the bank. Depending on your type of wall and wallpaper will determine how difficult the wallpaper will be to remove. However it is well worth the extra effort!
Stripping back wallpaper rather than decorating straight over is useful for a number of reasons:
- Firstly moisture in adhesives can cause both the old and new wallpaper to peel from the wall.
- Old wallpaper may be uneven or have air bubbles in which may show through on the new wallpaper or paint.
- If painting a lighter colour over current darker paper this may take many coats and not result in the intended shade.
- Moisture from the adhesive paste may make ink from the current wallpaper bleed through.
- If the old wallpaper is vinyl it may not take to the adhesive paste very well.
To make the process of removing wallpaper easier and quicker, follow the steps below:
Step 1
Cover the floor, as there will be a lot of falling paper, water and general mess.
Step 2
Begin by scoring the top of the paper with large criss-crosses using a paper scorer (sometimes called a paper tiger). This will help in letting water in for the next step. A knife can be used instead of a scorer but will likely not be as easy.
Step 3
The next stage is to soften the paste. A popular method is to use warm water mixed with a little washing up liquid. Apply with a sponge across the wall starting at the top and allow to soak for 15 minutes.
Step 4
Next pull from the corners and use a scraper to remove any stubborn parts of the wallpaper. Be sure not to dig the scraper into the wall as this will cause damage to the plaster. Repeat this process around the room.
Step 5
If the wallpaper is being particularly stubborn, a wallpaper steamer may be required. These can be hired from many tradesmen stores and involves applying steam to the paper which in turn dissolves the wallpaper paste behind. Always follow the instructions.