Decorating Guides
How to Remove Wallpaper in 4 Steps
Learn the best way to remove wallpaper with only water (and elbow grease) so your next wall treatment will look great
There comes a time in many homeowners’ lives when wallpaper simply must go. Maybe you’re moving into a new home and can’t stand paisley, or perhaps your child is growing up and no longer wants cutesy animals cavorting across the walls. Whatever the reason, the paper has to come down.
We’re here to show you how to remove wallpaper that you’re ready to part with, from prepping the room to removing extra adhesive and cleaning the walls when you’re done.
We’re here to show you how to remove wallpaper that you’re ready to part with, from prepping the room to removing extra adhesive and cleaning the walls when you’re done.
Before You Start
Take the time to do some groundwork before diving into the project. In this case, prepping the room and identifying your wall type are key to ensuring easy wallpaper removal.
Take the time to do some groundwork before diving into the project. In this case, prepping the room and identifying your wall type are key to ensuring easy wallpaper removal.
- Know your wall type. It’s important to know if your home’s walls are plaster or drywall, which is usually determined by your home’s age. Although the following tips for removing wallpaper apply to both wall types, drywall requires a more delicate touch than plaster.
- Prep the room. Move as much furniture and decor out of the room as possible. Protect the floor and any remaining furniture with the dropcloths. Remove wall decor and any light switches, and cut the power to the room.
How to Remove Wallpaper
- Score the walls. Use the wallpaper scorer to make small holes in the paper so the water can penetrate.
- Soak the walls. Karaja recommends plain, warm water. Fill a spray bottle and then use it to wet only as much paper as you can remove in 15 minutes. Allow the water to soak in for a few minutes.
- Strip the paper. Grab the paper from a low corner and carefully peel upward. Use a putty knife for those tricky pieces.
- Repeat. Continue the above steps until all the wallpaper, including its backing, is gone.
Clean Walls After Removing Wallpaper
To prepare the walls for their new life as a painted or repapered surface, clean them with a sponge and warm soapy water, trisodium phosphate (TSP) or a commercial product designed to remove wallpaper paste.
Richard D’Angelo of CraftPro Contracting cautions not to take this step lightly. “Even with the use of products that are indicated for wallpaper paste removal, there will almost always inevitably be residual paste, no matter how thoroughly the walls have been scrubbed,” he says.
To prepare the walls for their new life as a painted or repapered surface, clean them with a sponge and warm soapy water, trisodium phosphate (TSP) or a commercial product designed to remove wallpaper paste.
Richard D’Angelo of CraftPro Contracting cautions not to take this step lightly. “Even with the use of products that are indicated for wallpaper paste removal, there will almost always inevitably be residual paste, no matter how thoroughly the walls have been scrubbed,” he says.
Working With a Professional
If you choose to hire a professional for the job, you’ll want to look for a reputable painting contractor who knows how to take off wallpaper. D’Angelo recommends getting a list of contractors in your area. “Look through their projects and pictures — either on their website or their Houzz portfolio — to make sure they have extensive experience in wallpaper removal,” he says.
Then ask for references and find out what their previous wallpaper-removal customers have to say about their work. “When you meet your contractors, ask them about their approach to wallpaper removal to get a sense of their expertise and knowledge,” D’Angelo says.
D’Angelo cautions that doing the job yourself isn’t as easy as simply grabbing a corner and pulling. Even when done properly, there’s a risk of damaging the drywall. “The surface paper on the drywall beneath the wallpaper is often torn off with the wallpaper, resulting in large areas needing spackling to smooth it out,” he says.
Additionally, improper removal of the wallpaper paste could mean that your paint or new wallpaper won’t adhere properly, so even if you remove the wallpaper yourself, you may want to leave the rest to the pros.
More
Find paint and wallpaper professionals in your area
Considering Wallpaper? Here’s How to Get Started
If you choose to hire a professional for the job, you’ll want to look for a reputable painting contractor who knows how to take off wallpaper. D’Angelo recommends getting a list of contractors in your area. “Look through their projects and pictures — either on their website or their Houzz portfolio — to make sure they have extensive experience in wallpaper removal,” he says.
Then ask for references and find out what their previous wallpaper-removal customers have to say about their work. “When you meet your contractors, ask them about their approach to wallpaper removal to get a sense of their expertise and knowledge,” D’Angelo says.
D’Angelo cautions that doing the job yourself isn’t as easy as simply grabbing a corner and pulling. Even when done properly, there’s a risk of damaging the drywall. “The surface paper on the drywall beneath the wallpaper is often torn off with the wallpaper, resulting in large areas needing spackling to smooth it out,” he says.
Additionally, improper removal of the wallpaper paste could mean that your paint or new wallpaper won’t adhere properly, so even if you remove the wallpaper yourself, you may want to leave the rest to the pros.
More
Find paint and wallpaper professionals in your area
Considering Wallpaper? Here’s How to Get Started
Time. One day for wallpaper removal in one room.
Tools and Materials