How to remove old wallpaper and wallpaper borders

So you’ve decided that you want to make some changes to your space. The first thing you want to do is to put up the latest wallpaper or wallpaper border design (check out a few awesome samples here). But, there’s a small problem; the old wallpaper that you’ve been dying to get rid of.

It seems like a lot of boring, exhausting work, no? It’s really not. You just need to know the simple tricks to use.

Before you can embark on ripping out the paper, first consider the type of wallpaper that is already on the walls. There are various types in the market today. In general, they can be categorized as the ‘easy-to-strip’ type that is easily removable without tearing or steam. The more common trends now are those with vinyl or laminated coating that is meant to be washable and therefore will tend to be water-resistant. The more traditional types of wallpaper are easily removable after getting it just a bit wet. be washable and therefore will tend to be water-resistant.

Next, consider the type of walls that hold your roof. Walls built using drywall can be a bit problematic as the wallpaper tends to stick to the drywall surface. Older walls with plaster over wood or gypsum do not pose the same problem (ten points to ancient architecture!)

After you have this figured out, the work begins. 

Preliminary round- Protect all your surfaces. 

The job is quite frankly going to be messy. You don’t want bits and pieces of wallpaper getting stuck to the floor or water getting into sockets. Shut off all circuit breakers and remove covers and switch plates. Cover the floor well using a drop cloth and use painter’s tape to completely cover the switches, trim and moulding.

Round 1- Scrape off the Wallpaper

If the wallpaper is worn out, it may already be peeling off in some places. Find such an edge and pull it free with your hand. You could use a taping knife to scrape it off.

Round 2- The heart of the matter

When you have pulled off all there is to pull with hand and knife, you’ll need to spray the wall. Use warm water in any spray bottle available. 

Soak the walls generously and then allow it to sit for a few minutes. Use the same knife to scrape it off once more. Some walls may be stubborn and require more spraying.

In case of a tough nut to crack, consider using a steamer instead. Hold it against the paper for about 15-20 seconds and then immediately use your scraping tool to remove the paper.

Be careful not to damage the wall while you’re at it. In case you find another wallpaper or border beneath it, don’t fret. Simply get done with the first paper and then embark on the second one. Remember that you can only work on one layer at a time to avoid damaging the wall.

Round 3- It’s time to be clean

Cleaning the wall is very important after you have removed all the wallpaper or border. Use a sponge dampened in water and go over the wall several times. If you don’t completely remove all the paste, you will likely have trouble when you try to put up the new paper.

Round 4- The reward!

Give the wall a day or two to be completely dry before you put anything new on it. After that, get creative with any of our gorgeous designs!