Removing wallpaper advice

oldskoo1

We are moving into a new home with feature wallpaper walls we wish to remove.

House is less than 10 years old, i assume therefore plaster is in good shape. Wallpaper was only applied 2 or 3 years ago.

I've only ever removed a wallpaper border in our current house and it was a nightmare. The border and backing paper came off with a bit of scraping and a steamer but the glue it left was a complete nightmare.

Is wallpaper the same? Does it leave that horrible glue or is the adhesive different?

I'm wonder if newer wallpaper is easier to strip. I've watched the tutorials and if it doesn't dry strip i can get some wallpaper remover in a spray and score the paper. But what about the glue, how is this best removed to leave a smooth finish?

The surface will be painted after and i want to achieve a good finish without having to re-plaster.

mazza111

Remove with hot water and score the paper, it should come off easily given that it's only been up for a short time. You can sand any parts that are a bit rough.

Leif

You can steam the paper off. There is a danger plaster will blow, but take care and since it is recent plaster, it should be okay. Or wash with warm water containing fabric conditioner, apparently. You need to wash off the paste. Use sugar soap. If you don't, the paint will bubble. If you can't wash it off, seal it in e.g. with Zinsser Gardz.

LandyAndy

Sponge it with warm water and remove paper with a scraper. Sponge the wall down to remove the worst of any glue. Fill any imperfections in the plaster with polyfilla. Run an electric sander over the wall.

The more effort you put in the better the result (as with so many things)
.

oldskoo1

Sugar soap, i forgot about that!

Sounds like once the paper is off, sponge down the surface with sugar soap / or wallpaper stripper (homebrew or bought). Then a nice sanding if needed.

Feel more comfortable now. I assume that wallpaper paste is different from that god awful glue they use for borders?

drummer_666

save time and effort and use a wall paper steamer with a scraper. remember don't dig scraper in, just glide it

then use sugar soap to wash, sand, fill and sand again

drummer_666

oldskoo1 wrote: »

Sugar soap, i forgot about that!

Sounds like once the paper is off, sponge down the surface with sugar soap / or wallpaper stripper (homebrew or bought). Then a nice sanding if needed.

use the wallpaper stripper/steamer to get the paper off, not after you have got the paper off

Leif

Yes, good point about taking care with the scraper when removing the wallpaper. Otherwise (s)he'll have to spend ages filling gouges.