View ChannelsFeatured: Finance
View ShowroomsFeatured: Radiantec - Radiant Solar Heating

BobVila.com

Home

How to Remove Wallpaper

Whether you want to put up new wallpaper or switch to painted walls, removing wallpaper is a key way to give a room a fresh start.

DIFFICULTY RATING:

Get Adobe Flash Player to see this content.

View text version of this Step-by-Step

Download for iPod

What materials were used in this video?

Drop cloth

Gloves

Paint roller Plaster knife Plaster Primer Scraper Screwdriver Sponge Tape

Wallpaper remover solution

Wallpaper scoring tool

Clip Transcript For:

How to Remove Wallpaper

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" Giving a room a fresh start can sometimes mean taking down old wallpaper, depending on the state of the paper, a couple of methods can be used. First, prepare the room by laying down a drop cloth. Before you start, turn off the power to any outlets or lights at the service panel. Next, remove any outlet covers or faceplates on the wall that you'll be working on. Cover the outlets with tape to prevent them from getting wet. Remove any fixtures or light that will get in the way of removing the wallpaper. You may be able to remove the wallpaper without any wallpaper-remover solution. Try to find a section of the wallpaper that's already coming off and start to peel it slowly away from the wall at a constant speed, trying to avoid ripping the wallpaper. If the wallpaper does not come away from the wall freely, use a razor blade or a scraper to slide it up under the wallpaper. Be careful not to damage the wallboard. More than likely however, you're going to need the help of a wallpaper-remover solution. Use spray or sponge these products onto the old wallpaper. They'll soak in dissolving the old glue, making the wallpaper easier to remove. First, scour the wallpaper. A wallpaper-scouring tool has wheels that roll over the wallpaper making many small perforations. This allows the wallpaper-remover solution to penetrate and soak in. Roll the scouring tool over the wallpaper, evenly perforating the paper as you go. Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses when applying the wallpaper-remover solution. Follow the instructions that came with the remover solution. Some products you'll mix with water. There are also ready-to-apply removers, which we're using here. Spray or sponge the solution unevenly covering the entire surface. Work from the top of the wall to the bottom. As the wall absorbs the remover, it'll darken slightly. Continue applying the solution until you've covered the entire wall. With most removers, you'll only need 1 application. Allow the remover to soak in for 15 minutes or so. And then spray the wallpaper 1 more time to rewet the surface and then begin to remove the wallpaper. Starting at the seam, peel the strip of wallpaper up and away from the wall. If the wallpaper sticks, try using a putty knife or scraper to workup underneath the wallpaper. Be careful not to damage the wallboard. When all the wallpapers are removed, apply 1 more coat of solution to remove any residual adhesives or any leftover smaller pieces of wallpaper. Finally, using a sponge, rinse the wall with hot water and then allow the wall to dry completely. You may need to sand the walls smooth or put up a new wallboard or add plaster to fill the holes or damaged parts of the wall. If removing the wallpaper left the wall rough and uneven, then a light skim coat of plaster is needed. Apply the plaster with a large plaster knife. The condition of the wall will determine what action needs to be taken before painting or applying a new covering. When the wall is smooth, prime the walls with 2 coats of high quality primer. And with the walls clean, smooth, and primed, you're ready for a fresh start."

[-]

More Videos »Related Videos

Wallpapering Corners

Wallpapering around corners can be tricky; here's a tip. Split your corner panel lengthwise into two parts and turn the first half around the corner by a quarter inch. Hang the first half, smooth out the bubbles and trim. Then, overlap it with the second half, carefully matching the pattern in the corner. This way, you'll have a plum edge to match with your next panel.

Bob Tours the Almost Completed Plymouth House

Bob tours a basement recreation room that has recently been remodeled. The walls, ceilings, and floors have all be restored. The living room has been wallpapered and there is a new fireplace mantel. The kitchen has had a face-lift, also, with new wallpaper and cabinets. The bathroom was completely redone. It has new wall tile, a new fiberglass tub, new floor tile and new vanities. Bob meets Tom Lally, the electrician who is installing a very unique light fixture. It is a Paul Revere Lantern made to look like something from long ago. Tom demonstrates how to hang the fixture from the ceiling. Make sure the power is off! Mount the fixture by its bar and hook together the house wiring to the fixture wiring.

Wallpaper Removal Tips

Here s another great tip from BobVila.com. Wallpaper can be a beautiful and a long-lasting d cor solution, but when it s time to remove it you need patience, perseverance and a little know-how. There are different techniques for removing every kind of wallpaper, but the tools and preparation are much the same. First and foremost, realize that this is a wet and messy process. Removing or re-covering everything in the room with plastic and masking off trim and windows will eliminate a lot of cleanup hassles. Start at a top corner of the wall and try peeling off any loose areas of the outer layer. Once you ve peeled off everything you can, run a perforation tool over the rest. Mix your removal solution according to the manufacturer s instructions and spray it on with a spray bottle or garden sprayer. Wallpaper remover is an enzyme designed to dissolve the adhesive. Let it sit 5 minutes or so before you start scraping with a putty knife. To avoid damaging the plaster or drywall as you scrape, use only the knife s flat edge and not the corners. You may need to spray again a few times to get it all. Buying or renting a wallpaper steamer can make tough jobs much easier. Use this tool carefully because soaking the drywall or plaster will damage it. Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com

Budget Decorating

Here's how to get the most from your home decorating efforts without breaking the bank. Look for good quality furniture with refinishing potential at garage sales, flea markets, or antique shops. Repair and recover them to match your decor. Doing your own painting and wallpapering can save a lot. And remember, you can always get help from a professional decorator on a hourly basis to get you started.