How To Remove Wallpaper

Some fashion choices are easier to recover from than others. While a mullet can be quickly remedied, a tattoo is more difficult to undo! The same applies to home redecoration; decades-old burnt-orange can be painted over easily, while wallpaper is more costly and time-consuming to change.

There are two basic types of wallpaper. Vinyl-backed paper is heavier, with a slight sheen and a “plasticky” feel to it, while traditional paper is thinner and often more decorative, elaborate and expensive. Whichever type you have, the removal process has the same basic steps.

1. Peel off the top layer. With vinyl-backed paper, it will often pull off easily in large sheets, while traditional paper will more likely tear in small strips and bits. After the paper is peeled away, the fuzzy backing will be left behind, more permanently attached to the wall surface. Some companies recommend using a scoring tool (tiger claw) and wallpaper removing liquid to make the removal easier. This is usually not very effective, however, since the small holes in the paper do not let in enough solvent to deactivate the glue.
2. Tape off your baseboards with heavy plastic so that you can apply liquid glue remover liberally, and any runoff will pool on the plastic for easy cleanup.
3. Use a sprayer or sponge to apply glue remover to the wall and allow it to soak in, then scrape off the gummy residue with a putty knife or scraper. Do this one manageable section at a time, or the wall will dry before you get there with the scraper.
4. Use a mild detergent, TSP or wallpaper washing compound to wash away the remaining glue residue. If this is not done well, the glue will repel paint and cause peeling or other paint failure. Allow the wall to dry thoroughly.
5. Repair gouge-marks and other drywall damage that happened before or during the paper-removal. Use joint compound or the faster-drying “easy-sand” products (spackle) to fill in valleys and holes. This process of creating a uniform surface is called skimming. When it is dry, use a drywall sander to smooth out the surface and scrub out lines.
6. Fully prime the wall with a latex/acrylic primer. If you are using a strong color, have your primer tinted to reduce the number of coats that will be required for thorough coverage. Now you can paint your wall as normal!

If this process sounds difficult or intimidating (and even the toughest do-it-yourselfers feel this way about wallpaper), don’t hesitate to get professional assistance. Homeowners often begin removing their wallpaper themselves, only to quit in frustration part-way through the project. If this happens to you, call a painting contractor. Manor Works Painting, based in Sterling, VA, is a well-respected painting company with long experience in expert wallpaper removal. We gladly serve Purcellville, Alexandria, Gainesville, Leesburg, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring and the whole Washington DC vicinity.

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