All About Stripping Wallpaper

If you are thinking of stripping wallpaper and redecorating then follow these tips and guidelines to get the job done efficiently and easily. The first step in redecorating a wall is to strip the wallpaper which is already on the wall. There is a universal basic technique to stripping wallpaper but there are many varied ways of doing it depending on the type of wallpaper, the wallpaper paste and the condition of the wall underneath.

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Preparing For Stripping Wallpaper

When preparing for stripping wallpaper you have to take into account the furnishings and the floor. To make cleaning up easier for you it is an admirable idea to use plastic sheeting to cover the floors, the furnishings and the bottoms of the walls. A lot of people tend to use old sheets and curtains but the water can still seep through making everything wet so plastic sheeting is the preferred way of protecting the surroundings. If you don't protect your surfaces, everything will get damp and wet and you will most likely end up with bits of sticky wallpaper stuck everywhere which makes the job itself twice as hard for you.

Make sure to have at hand plenty of rubbish bags so you can disperse of the wallpaper as needed creating less mess for you. Also be sure to remember that ordinary wallpaper is stripped using water or steam so don't start pulling off loose pieces otherwise it will become more difficult for you.

Different Wallpapers and What Technique to Use

Different types of wallpaper require different materials and techniques for stripping. Here is the basic list:

For paper patterned and plain wallpaper generally the water technique with a dash of washing up liquid will do in this case.

For Emulsion painted papers use the water based technique.

For washable and other types of painted wallpaper use the abrade technique on the surface and then follow on with the water technique. If you find the water technique still quite difficult then the better option is to use a steam machine.

Vinyl wallpaper is a different class of wallpaper altogether and requires a slightly different technique. Vinyl wallpaper has two layers so the first step would be to peel the top layer off leaving the sticky back on the wall. You may have trouble getting hold of this first layer and if you do then you may have difficulty with the first layer 'running' to the edge.

The way to overcome this small issue is to try and get hold of a wide strip of the first layer when beginning to peel. When you do if you see that the strip is becoming narrower then pull it sideways slightly rather than down. A lot of people tend to leave the backing paper on the wall to hang the new wallpaper but if it is damaged and is no good then use the water technique to get rid of it.

How to Abrade the Surface

The reason some wallpaper surfaces need to be abraded before stripping is because their surface doesn't allow water to seep through. For example, there is a layer of paint on the wallpaper or it is a washable wallpaper. If your wallpaper has one of these finishes then before stripping the paper use some coarse abrasive paper to gently scratch the surface. Go along using circular motions but don't overdo it because you could damage the wall underneath. All you need is a few scratches which will allow the water to seep through. If you have a lot of wallpaper to strip then you can buy special tools and blades which you use on tough wallpaper to create a similar effect.

How to Use the Water Technique

If you have abraded the surface then you are ready to move on to the water technique. Grab a bowl of hot water with a dash of washing up liquid in it and begin to sponge the wall from the top to bottom as if you are washing it. You will need to leave the water to soak in for about half an hour to get the desired effect. When you come back grab a scraping tool and peel off the top corner of your wallpaper. It should come away easily but IF it doesn't then apply more water as you see fit.

If you cannot find a corner to start peeling then do the soaking procedure again and wait a little longer for it to soak through. Some walls are quite porous and will soak up the water and other wallpapers may be stuck on with a tougher glue so you need to experiment to find the right level.

If this technique fails and you still cannot strip the wallpaper with ease then now it the time to get out the steam machine!

How to Use the Steam Machine

Using a steam machine is a quicker and easier procedure than the water technique. It gets rid of tough wallpaper whereas water won't. The machine heats up water which results in steam coming through an iron which you hold to the wall. This will loosen up the adhesive and allow wallpaper to be stripped with ease. You can hire steam machines or you can buy one, be sure to follow instructions and don't add any washing up liquid as you would with the water technique.

All you need to do once you have set the steam machine up is to place the iron with the steam on to the wall, wait for it to take effect, start scraping and peeling the paper and then repeat the process until you have uncovered the wall.

Stripping wallpaper is a messy job and requires patience and trial and error until you find the right medium with which to strip your wallpaper. Once you are done then scrape away any glue and uneven bits on the wall and clean the surface for re-decorating!