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Removing Wallpaper- Tips From Professional Painters

We’ve all seen it, whether at Grandma’s house or while walking through a fixer-upper, nothing tells the story of a home like old wallpaper. Maybe it is peeling or perhaps it is staying firmly put, but either way you have decided that it does not fit your home decorating ideas and it needs to go. The good news is, with the right painting tools, you do not have to be a painting contractor to get it done. The bad news is that you are going to have to fight for your right to have bare walls, because that wallpaper is not going to go quietly.

To be fair, some wallpaper comes off easier than others. It depends on how much paste and determination was used decades back when it was applied. But what is the best way to get it off without losing your mind in the process? Painting contractors have many ideas on how to remove wallpaper, but here are a few of our favorites.

Painting Tools Needed- You’ll need drop cloths, a wallpaper scorer, solvent, a spray bottle OR a steamer.

  1. Prepare- You are about to go to war with your wallpaper, and things are going to get messy. Make sure you cover your floors, counters and fixtures with drop cloths to save them from getting wet or covered in gummy old wallpaper.
  2. Know Your Enemy- Before you really get started, figure out what you are dealing with. Some wallpapers are strong and hold together well during removal, if that is the case you may not have to use solvents or steam to get it off. Begin in the corner and try to remove the paper; if it peels off easily then you got lucky. You can always scrape any residue left on the walls with warm water and a putty knife or an abrasive sponge.
  3. Score- If your wallpaper falls apart or does not easily peel off the wall, it is time to try more drastic measures. Run your wallpaper scorer up and down your walls to punch little holes so the solvent or steam can get behind the paper and break up the paste and backing.
  4. Solvent or Steam- You now have two options, one you can soak your wallpaper with a solvent (either store bought or homemade) and wait for the wallpaper to bubble away from the wall before removing it with a scraper. Your second option is to rent a commercial grade wallpaper steamer from a paint store or home improvement company. We recommend this option if you have a large amount of old, stiff wallpaper to remove.

No matter what path you choose, with some hard work and elbow grease, you will soon be rid of your old wallpaper and free to try out some new home decorating ideas such as a fresh paint color or new wallpaper print.

Here at Southington, our expert painters specialize in removing dated wallpaper and refreshing walls with a clean, modern paint color. Or, if you’d rather replace it with a new modern wallpaper look, we are experienced in hanging wallpaper as well. Give us a call and let one of our experienced painters take a look at your outdated and worn wallpaper and tell you all about how we can help you trade it in for the walls you’re dreaming of.

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