Advice from experienced builders on how to quickly and easily remove old wallpaper from a wall

During the renovation process, there is often a need to update the design of the walls. To do this, you need to remove the old wallpaper.

You can remove old coating panels using simple methods, taking into account the type of material and type of base.

We'll tell you in this article how to easily and quickly remove old wallpaper from a wall.

7 ways to use at home

Old wallpaper can be removed using several methods. Their choice is determined by the type of coating and the presence of household appliances.

Water

This method is one of the simplest and most accessible. The main task is to thoroughly moisten the panels.

For processing you will need the following materials:

• warm water;
• bucket;
• putty knife;
• rags.

Application:

1. Moisten the surface with a wet cloth (or other convenient method).
2. Leave for 15 minutes.
3. Use a spatula to pry off the edge and pull the panel together. If necessary, apply additional moisture.
4. Repeat the procedure on a new area.

The soaking method is best suited for removing paper wallpaper that does not have a water-repellent coating.

Cutting and soaking

Simply soaking won’t work with washable wallpaper with a dense structure. To soak the adhesive layer of old panels, it is necessary to provide access to it.This can be done by making cuts.

Work order:

• Using the corner of a spatula, knife or other tool, make cuts on the panels over the entire area;
• moisten the surface with warm water;
• wait at least a quarter of an hour;
• Help yourself with a spatula to remove the coating.

Hot steam

A steam generator helps make removing old wallpaper easier. Exposure to steam leads to swelling of the panels and the adhesive layer. After this treatment, it will be much easier to remove the wallpaper by lifting the paper layer with a spatula. A steam mop can be used instead of a steam generator.

Iron

If the household does not have a steam generator, you can even use a regular iron to remove wallpaper, but with some restrictions.

For processing you will need:

• iron;
• bucket;
• rag.

Procedure:

1. Heat the iron, setting it to maximum.
2. Wet a rag and apply it to the wall.
3. Place the iron on a wet cloth. If possible, move it from side to side so that steam is formed.
4. Clean off with a spatula.

The iron method can be used to remove tightly adhered wallpaper, including those that were glued not with wallpaper glue, but with bustilate.

Removing the adhesive layer

In some cases, the panels cannot be completely removed, even using soaking and steaming. Wallpaper may delaminate, partially remaining on the walls with glue.

Mole

The drain cleaner can be used in an unconventional way - to remove wallpaper. It is used diluted at the rate of: 2 liters of water – 1 liter of cleaner.

The components are mixed and applied to the surface. After 10 minutes, the panels are removed. The disadvantage of this method is the toxicity of the reagent. After treatment with Mole, the walls must be washed.

It is necessary to carry out treatment with Mole in personal protective equipment and with good ventilation, since if ignored, you can get a chemical burn and vapor poisoning.

Special means

If simple methods for removing the old layer of wallpaper did not help, special medications can be used.

These products are available in various forms. They help the lower layers of the coating to soak away from the base.

The use of special preparations is similar to regular soaking, but the result is higher. The drug is applied according to the instructions and after the time indicated on the package, the panels are easily removed.

Popular means:

• Atlas Alpan;
• Kleo;
• Quelyd Dissoucol et al.

Special preparations are economical in consumption, allowing one bottle to treat up to 100 m?

Features of removal taking into account the type of material

When removing old wallpaper it is necessary to consider what kind of coating needs to be dismantled. This will allow you to remove them as efficiently and quickly as possible.

Vinyl

In most cases, vinyl wallpaper can be removed quite easily even when dry.

Nonwoven

Steam methods are best suited for removing non-woven wallpaper.But sometimes the panels can be removed quite easily - just pull the edge lifted with a spatula and pull.

Washable

Simply wetting the surface is not effective for washable wallpaper.. Notches made, for example, using a “wallpaper tiger” can help. The method using steam and special preparations are also suitable.

This video will show you how to remove washable wallpaper from a wall:

Fabric

Textile wallpaper can be easily removed by steaming. You can use the method with an iron or with a steam generator. The treatment is very effective due to the access of steam through the layer of fabric directly to the glue. Additional notches over the entire area will help speed up processing.

Liquid

Liquid wallpaper differs from the usual roll wallpaper in appearance and method of application. This coating has a composite composition from a mixture of various fibers and adhesives.

The mixture is applied like putty, forming a high-quality dense layer on the surface.

These panels can be removed quite easily. – by wetting the surface and prying up the lagging layer with a spatula. In cases where simple soaking turns out to be ineffective, a primer can be used.

Tired liquid wallpaper does not have to be replaced with every repair - such a coating can easily withstand painting.

Glass wallpaper

You can remove glass wallpaper by soaking it in hot water.. But the work will go faster if you use a special wallpaper remover, for example, Kleo. The panel is cut under the ceiling and begins to be pulled together.

If the panels do not come off, then the edges of the cuts are pulled back and Cleo or another product is poured in there. Leave for a quarter of an hour. Gradually, prying the edges with a spatula, the wallpaper is pulled together. The remaining material is cleaned off by grinding.

The nuances of cleaning drywall

If the wallpaper was pasted on a wall covered with plasterboard, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the material that was used for leveling. The process of removing the old coating must take into account exactly how the coating was applied.

There are 2 options:

• for putty;
• directly onto the drywall.

If putty was used, then the wallpaper can be removed using almost any of the above methods, and even using solvents. There shouldn't be any problems.

If preliminary preparation of the walls has not been carried out, it may be almost impossible to remove old panels without damaging the drywall. In this case, sanding will be required. After this, the surface is primed and new wallpaper is glued.

Drywall consists of cardboard sheets and gypsum, so the paper base should not be allowed to become significantly wet.

Removal from wood base

If the wallpaper was glued to wood, it is better to avoid increased moisture during the work. All impacts should be as gentle as possible.

After removing the old coating, the walls will need to be prepared. If necessary, the wood is treated with special compounds.

Prohibitions

When removing old wallpaper from walls It is necessary to take into account the following prohibitions and warnings:

1. You should not leave old wallpaper on the walls before gluing new ones, as this will worsen the appearance and may cause the panels to peel off.
2. When removing the old coating, the spatula should not be used with force. This can lead to damage to the walls and the need for additional work - smoothing out the created defects.
3. You should not use caustic reagents that are not intended for this purpose to soak the panels. They can cause stains and release caustic fumes that are harmful to health.
4. Do not rush to remove the old coating before it gets wet. The swollen layers are removed much faster and easier than when removed dry.
5. If you need to remove wallpaper from a large area, then it makes no sense to immediately moisten the entire surface, and only then start removing the layer, since the panels may have time to dry.

9 recommendations from experts

Advice from experienced builders will allow you to carry out repair work in the optimal way:

1. Wallpaper in old houses that have not seen a major renovation for a long time is not always worth removing to the very foundation. It would be more correct to soak and remove the top layer, and glue the new coating onto the partially remaining paper. This option is suitable for thin and not very smooth partitions.
2. If the old panels do not fit tightly to the wall, they must be removed completely. The remaining cavities can not only cause external gluing defects, but also become a breeding ground for mold.
3. Repair work should be carried out in work clothes and with your head covered.
4. Adding a small amount of fabric softener can enhance the effect of warm water as a soaking agent. 1-2 caps per bucket of water is enough.
5. If the wallpaper was glued not with wallpaper glue, but with PVA or another water-insoluble compound, sanding will help remove it. But this increases the risk of damage to the walls themselves.
6. If, after removing the wallpaper, the wall is damp from water, then before applying a new coating, it must be thoroughly dried.
7. Before carrying out repair work, the premises must be emptied as much as possible - furniture must be removed. The furniture that remains must be covered with film.
8. The tools needed for the job should be prepared in advance. It is also advisable to take care of bags for construction waste - torn wallpaper.
9. If the coating will be removed using water, it is necessary to cover all sockets with film. Additionally, it is recommended to de-energize the room. And even in this case, you need to use water very carefully.

Conclusion

Proper treatment will help you quickly and easily remove old wallpaper from the walls. You can use simple methods or use special preparations.

It is very important when working to take into account the type of wallpaper itself and the base.. If you approach the issue thoughtfully, then preparing the walls will not take much time and will be done efficiently.