Best way to rip wallpaper off?

movilogo

I am a complete novice and never done this before.

How do I rip wallpapers off? There seems to be multiple layers of wallpapers (it is 1970s house).

I prefer a easier and faster method over an elegant approach.

Should I go for steamer or chemical agent or something else?

Procrastinator333

I have DIY'd a fair bit of wallpaper removal, but not a pro - so I'm sure they will have better advice, but my 2 pence....

Getting wallpaper off, a lot of it comes down to luck and what sort of paper / glue is on the wall. It can even change part way round a room.

I would start of seeing what you can just peel off. Find a corner that is coming off and just pull it gently. See where that gets you. If you are lucky it will come off in nice big strips that run all the way up the wall. If you are unlucky it will just keep breaking off every few mm.

Then I apply warm water and start scrapping. Hopefully it comes off ok with this.

And if that still proves hard work I use a steamer. But I do use this as a last resort as if you steam the wall too much you can start to blow the plaster underneath.

Just make sure you get a decent scrapper, that is the most important tool.

Pennylane

Nip down the discount shop and buy a plastic Squirter bottle for about a quid. Fill it with warm water and spray a length of wallpaper. leave for a few mins and depending on the type of paper it will peel off nicely. Sounds as though you have several layers on top of each other so you may have to restrain.

Use a scaper carefully to remove any stubborn bits but try not to dig into the wall as this will show up when you re paper or paint. Before you repaper or paint make sure you wash the walls down well with warm water and a bit of washing up liquid or use sugar soap. It's all about preparation!!

You honestly don't need the expense of a steamer.

Money_Saver

movilogo wrote: »

I am a complete novice and never done this before.

How do I rip wallpapers off? There seems to be multiple layers of wallpapers (it is 1970s house).

I prefer a easier and faster method over an elegant approach.

Should I go for steamer or chemical agent or something else?

Try scoring the wallpaper in zig zags. Then spray with warm soapy water (like what you spray house plants with).

If it's several layers as you describe it might be worth in hiring a professional wallpaper stripper.it'll be a doddle.

Try HSS.com

Hope this helps

lstar337

movilogo wrote: »

How do I rip wallpaper off?

Buy it a car. It'll be ripped off every time it re-fuels. :rotfl:

PasturesNew

The real trouble is it's not until you try, with your wallpaper, that you'll know what's easiest/best. Some wallpaper comes off easily, some won't shift except through persistence.

Be aware, if you do use a steamer, then there's the small chance that you might crack the plaster - and, if so, the wall will need replastering. This happens if you hold the steamer on too long and/or if the plaster is old.

trailingspouse

I would go for the steamer option every time. They're not expensive, and you'll get years of use out of it.

If the paper is woodchip, use a scraper to 'knock the tops off' all the little bits. That'll let the steam in without risking any damage to the plaster from scoring. If it's a washable paper, or it's been painted, you'll need to score it, but be very careful not to go too deep as you risk scoring the plaster underneath. Not too big a deal if you're re-papering, but it will be visible if you're just painting. And it's always worth seeing if you can lift a corner and peel large sheets off in one go. You still need to remove the paper that it leaves behind, but it's very therapeutic!!

My normal method is then to go over a large area with a wet sponge (I do this while the steamer is heating up), then I set to with the steamer. Keep the business end of the steamer moving, to avoid over-heating one particular area.

To be honest, if the plaster cracks because of the steamer, chances are it wasn't in a good state to begin with. Often just the act of removing the paper is enough to pull some of the plaster away.

And clear up straight away - soggy wallpaper will stick to the floor once it dries out. Put newspaper down under where you're working, then the whole lot can get rolled up and chucked out in a matter of moments.