The Ultimate Guide to Wallpaper Removal: Tips from Professional House Painters”
How to Remove Wallpaper Like a Pro: Expert Advice for Perfectly Painted Walls”
The “Dry Peel” Test: Will You Have Good Luck?
This is something you probably didn’t know: Certain wallpaper is made particularly to come off by hand. Give this method a try: Find a seam or edge and lift slightly to see how much of the face comes off. If you can pull it off cleanly without trying to wrestle with it, you may have peelable wallpaper and you are indeed lucky Peelable Wallpaper: This way, take off as much as possible. The backing paper will possibly be left, needing additional work to effect removal. Non-Peelable Wallpaper Don’t be alarmed! Most paper calls for chemical or steam assistance, which you can get next.
Always keep your work space in order as you go along, just as our house painting experts do in the home painting work, so that you will not leave things behind—less chaos, better product!
Scoring and Soaking: The Secret of Wallpaper Removal Success
Here is where the amateur usually fails or gets stuck. Years of experience in the paint business at Paint Heroes has taught us that patience as well as the right method spell perfection.
Step 1: Scoring the Paper
Use a scoring device especially made for wallpaper. This should scratch lightly the paper. Do not put heavy pressure on it, especially if working in plaster board, for it is possible to damage the same.
Step 2: The Solution for Removal
Home Made Mix: Warm water and one teaspoon of a mild soap powder will serve nicely.
Purchasing Solution: Various solvents put out commercially will generally break up even the hard glue.
Liberally spray: A small area (say 3’ x 3’) should be sprayed first. Soak the solution in at least 10 minutes.
Try a small test spot: If the glue is coming off then you are ready to scrape.
The professional house painters are by the thousands on this planet dealing with impossible wall prep every minute of every day in sections. Giving each section the same amount of solution.
Scraping like a Paint Hero: This is the strategy for wallpaper removal that does not harm yourwalls. In this case the technique knitted into the operation is more effective than brute force. Use a wide flexible scraper that does not have a good sharp knife in it. Start at the seams or bottom edge, and gently pry it loose. The wet paper will come loose in large sections.
What about the difficult places? Reapply removal solution and let soak away — Never gouge at the wall with brute force. Will protect the wall surface for future painting or finishing.
The professionals will tell you to work lightly and slowly and carefully. The damage that you do at this time may necessitate further repairs some later date!
The Professional’s Advice For Difficult Adhesive Bond, Residue from Paper, How To Get A Smooth Wall Surface When Painting:
Sometimes, some of the cement or some of the paper backing will not come off. But, nothing to worry about a fine quality finish can be obtained yet: Try a mixture of equal parts of vinegar and water. Spray it and let soak and using a sponge gently rub off the remaining residue. Commercial cement removers do wonders to especially stubborn cement. Clean wall and let completely dry. In here is the precision in doing it: Residue or gilding left will produce bubbling of new paint on final coat or peeling. We insist that walls be properly prepped and this is how the beautiful magazine quality finishes are obtained.
Final Cleanup and Preparation of Walls: The Paint Heroes Difference!
After removing the old paper and glue, now is the time to get your walls ready for their new paint job:
Look for damage: Apply some joint compound to fill in any holes you see. Once dried use a hand sander quickly to smooth out the area.
Wash the walls: Clean them using a gentle cleaning product to remove dirt, grime, or other debris.
Apply a primer (if needed): If you're painting an older home, you might want to consider applying a good quality primer to the surface first; this will help seal the surface and ensure a consistent finish -- i.e., one coat of paint instead of two.
These are the same steps that professional decorators follow every time they do a paint job!
Before Painting: Why the Correct Removal of Wallpaper is Important for Wonderful Finish Paint Jobs
Have you ever wondered why freshly painted walls seem to be uneven? It is usually due to traces left over or failure in performing some of the necessary preparation of walls that cause the trouble. By investing energy into the properly removing of wallpaper, you are paving the way for the finish which will be not only attractive — but durable.
If you are interested in learning how to get professional results, but are not quite sure that you will be able to do every one of the things involved in the project yourself, there will always be the trusted residential painting professional on whom you can call to assist you in the transformation of your project from chaos and confusion to, splendour and beauty!
Next Level: When to Ask for Help from Professionals
There are times when the project warrants a professional to do the job, because it is not something that can be done on a do-it-yourself basis. If you are experiencing a great deal of problems with very old, stacked wallpaper, special adhesion or weak walls, do not hesitate to get professional help. At Paint Heroes you receive the benefits of guaranteed results and the attention to the detail obtained through years of specific training in this line of work.
Homeowners who wish to add value to their homes or want to totally change their living areas can seek help from professionals to plan, prepare and finish every step of their projects with perfection.
External Resource: Learn More About Wall Finishes
If you wish to find out about the latest techniques and wall finishes available from the time of completing your wallpaper removal until the job is done, you will find it all in this very informative “How to Remove Wallpaper Like a Pro” – Better Homes & Gardens, which contains a great deal of valuable information related to, forums for professionals, current trends in the industry, etc. that will be of great assistance to you in enhancing the progress of your next project.
FAQ: Paint Heroes’ Answers to Your Wallpaper Removal Questions
Q: How long will it generally take to do the wallpaper removal in a single room?
A: If it is done in a standard size room it will generally take anywhere from four hours to eight hours to do the job right, according to dimension, type of wallpaper, and coats of wallpaper. If you are dealing with textural wallpaper or special papers it will take longer.
Q: Can removing wallpaper possibly be harmful to the walls?
A: If you do it the right way, that is, by using the requisite tools and materials in the manner in which they are intended, your walls will sustain no harm. The secret to it all is patience and not trying to forcibly separate the stuck portions of wallpaper. A little more preparation today will save you a great deal of preparation (money) tomorrow.
Q: How should a property owner prepare walls for house painting after a wallpaper removal job has been accomplished?
A: Clean your walls thoroughly, repair any banges or injuries and apply a wall primer. Starting off with an absolutely perfect wall surface will mean richer looking, better blend of color, and a surface that will wear well at the end.
Q: Do I need any special equipment in wallpaper removal, or do I use household supplies to do the work?
A: Many homeowners use nothing more than a scoring instrument, scraper, and ordinary household soaps and cleaners to do the work. For more difficult wallpaper, it is advisable to rent a steam unit, or buy some special remover to obtain the effects you desire and insure a professional job.
Q: When should I hire professional help, instead of attempting removal of wallpaper myself?
A: If you are dealing with numerous coats, great amounts of adhesive, fragile plaster, or the job seems a tremendous one, it is time to call in the professionals. Experienced residential house painters will save you time and give you a clean paintable prepared surface for the new painting job.
The removal of the old out-of-date wallpaper need not necessarily seem like a nightmare. With proper instruction and some amount of patience any devoted do-it-yourselfer or a homeowner can have well prepared walls, which will serve as the foundation of a new and bright home. Remember, if you want your work and your home to be converted in a manner resembling something from the pages of a decorator's magazine, you have only to count on our to give it to you quickly, well and with precision. Your dream renovation is just a step away!