Some people swear by their wallpaper, but its presence certainly dates a home’s interior. In fact, a home that still features wallpaper is probably up there in age, and the odds are high that the wallpaper hasn’t budged in nearly as long. Over time, even the most aesthetically pleasing wallpaper will wear down, losing its color, texture, and perhaps even ripping away from the wall. Not only is this an eyesore, but it can damage the walls if left unchecked.

While wallpaper eliminates the need for interior painting, it can devastate an interior more than any paint job can. Plus, most modern homeowners would rather see their walls painted. Ultimately, it might be time to have that paper removed.

But no so fast. Wallpaper removal is a delicate process that requires knowledge, experience, and patience. Here’s how the professionals remove wallpaper to avoid a sticky situation.

Gather the Necessary Materials

Taking down wallpaper can get messy, but that mess shouldn’t end up on your walls or floors. It’s necessary to prepare with the right tools. Here are some things you’ll need:

  • Drop cloth(s)
  • Water bucket
  • Scraper
  • Wallpaper removal solution
  • Paint roller
  • Pan
  • Perforator

Prepare the Area

Once you have these items, you must prep the area for work. First, lay down the drop cloth to cover the floors and baseboards in range. This will protect these areas from water, debris, and any paint you might apply later on. Professional painters will find ways to save time and resources like this.

The Removal Process

Now it’s time to actually start removing the wallpaper. Before you start attacking the wall with a scraper, there are important steps to take that will help the paper come off more easily and leave less adhesive on the wall. Using the perforator tool, go over the entire wall in question. This forms several small pores in the wallpaper that helps the removal solution get inside to loosen the material from the surface.

Then it’s time to apply the solution. Many wallpaper removal chemicals come in solvent form, meaning you have to mix them with water and possibly vinegar to create the right solution. Read the instructions for the proper amounts and mixing procedures. Once you have your solution ready, spread it over the paint roller and apply it to a section of the wall just as if you were painting it. With the holes formed from the perforator, it won’t take long for the solution to soak in. Once it does, you should be able to peel away large portions of the wallpaper. Any pieces still sticking to the wall can be carefully scraped away with the scraping tool.

Scrub Down the Bare Wall and Clean Up

The newly stripped wall still needs some cleaning before it’s ready for home painters to dress it up. Just use a sponge and warm water to make sure there isn’t any leftover adhesive on the wall. Once the wall has dried, it’s ready for painting. At this point the drop cloth might be covered too heavily with fallen wallpaper. If so, it can easily be bundled up and thrown away, and a new drop cloth can be laid down for painting services (or the existing cloth can be reused).

Modernize Your Home

Some people might hate their wall wallpaper but don’t feel confident in removing it themselves, or aren’t sure about the next step after wallpaper removal. All American Painting Plus can help on both counts. Our contractors will safely remove your old wallpaper and our pro painters will give your interior new life with a fresh coat. To learn more about all the services we offer, including wallpaper removal, give us a call today at (703)-620-5563!