How To Remove Wallpaper

There's more than one way to do it; try them all until you find what works for your situation.

- OHJ Editors

Stripping wallpaper doesn't require special skills-but you will need patience and a tolerance for making a mess. The right tools may vary depending on the type of wall covering, the adhesive, and the substrate.

Experiment with several techniques: scoring, steaming, sponging with hot water, using scrapers, using proprietary strippers.

Try this sequence first: Slowly pull paper off at loose seams. Scrape as much as you can from the wall, using a taping or putty knife or a window scraper-but be careful not to damage the plaster, because gouges and nicks will mean more tedious work ahead. Spray remaining paper with hot water to loosen it, let it soak in, and scrape again.

If hot water isn't working, use a Paper Tiger to perforate the paper, allowing water (or steam from a rented steamer) to penetrate through it. Remove remaining paste with a gel wallpaper stripper. Finally, wash the walls with warm water and TSP for a clean and smooth surface to assure adherence of new paint or paper.

WHAT IF THE WALLPAPER WAS PAINTED OVER?

Somebody in the past took the quick-and-dirty route, painting right over the wallpaper without removing it. Now it's your problem, a difficult one because the paint barrier prevents water, steam, and chemicals from reaching the paper and adhesive.

First try the techniques described in this article: pulling at seams, scoring through the paint, then soaking. If the paper proves impossible to remove, you'll have to do some extra prep to the wall before you paint.

First remove any areas of loose paper. Then apply a thin layer of joint compound (drywall taping compound) to all seams, nail holes, bumps, and other damaged spots. After the walls are thoroughly dry, sand them smooth. The more time spent filling holes, patching, smoothing, and sanding, the better the result. Finish with a matte or eggshell paint; gloss will show up any imperfections.