Wallpaper is an inexpensive and convenient way to transform your home decor. In addition to being economical and practical, wallpaper is ideal for those who want to make small changes to their rooms. It also helps to give a more fun and modern look to your room without much effort.
Undoubtedly, wallpaper is one of the most practical ways to add more beauty to the decor. But if you want to change the look of rooms at some point, it’s important to know how to remove wallpaper. Here we have listed some easy ways to remove wallpapers.
Ways to Remove Wallpaper Easily
It is usually not complicated to remove the paper. However, follow our tips on how to remove wallpaper.
Preparation
Before starting to remove the wallpaper, it is advisable to take some precautions, such as:
- Work in a bright environment: The ideal is to complete the process during the day so that you won’t miss any part with wallpaper.
- Removal of frames, sockets and switches: Remove frames from sockets and switches, as some of the wallpaper may be trapped underneath them. However, don’t forget to turn off the electricity while removing the sockets.
- Cover the floor with a tarp or cover: You will get a little messy while stripping the wallpaper. Hence, protect the floor using a tarp, newspapers and even covers.
- Move away furniture: Furniture should be placed away from the wall so that it won’t get dirty while removing the wallpaper.
- Test on part of a paper: If you don’t know what type of wallpaper you’ve put up, it’s best to do a test run before you start. With the help of a putty knife, pull one end and see what happens.
How to Remove Wallpaper: Learn How to Remove Step by Step
In the process of how to remove wallpaper with glue or any other type of wallpaper:
How to remove self adhesive wallpaper
Adhesive or removable wallpaper is one of the easiest to remove. Regardless of what type of wall paint you have underneath; you can remove the paper without much effort.
- For this, find a loose end of the wallpaper and pull on it. You will notice that you can remove whole pieces without tearing them in the process.
- If the strip happens to tear because the paper is old, just look for another loose end and repeat the process.
- Do this until you remove all the wallpaper.
- Finish by passing sandpaper all over the wall and another hand with a cloth with soap and water. Pass a dry cloth last.
How to remove wallpaper glue from walls
Traditional (paper) wallpaper generally uses glue to adhere to the surface it is being placed on. Here you will have a little more work to remove it.
- First, make some slits along the wallpaper, you can use the putty knife to achieve this.
- Then, if you know that the wall is made of masonry, dip a sponge in a mixture of soap and hot water and rub these torn areas. The idea is that the water penetrates the wallpaper and loosens the glue.
- You can then try to pull out some parts of the paper, it will probably release some pieces while others will remain stuck.
- Use the putty knife to help, or continue scrubbing the sponge with soapy water.
Now, if the wall is made of plaster, it is best to just pass a dry cloth over it. If necessary use fine sandpaper, in case you notice traces of glue from the adhesive.
If you find it more practical, you can wet all the wallpaper, especially if you notice that it is made of paper. With this, it will be easier to scrape with the putty knife or use sandpaper to remove it. Just be careful not to wet the drywall. Here it is best to use less water and just moisten the wallpaper.
How to give the final finishes to the wall
Finished removing the wallpaper from a room in your house, it’s time for the final finishes:
Clean the wall
Even if the wallpaper used was adhesive, once you’re done removing it you need to clean the wall. The same as if the idea was just to paint. Wipe a slightly damp or dry cloth over its entire length. If necessary, scrub stubborn stains.
Also, take the opportunity to get rid of house mould and any other type of stain on the wall.
Sand the wall
Some glue remnants may remain on the wall even after you’ve removed all the paper. Use sandpaper to solve the problem. It is also useful for some dirt.
Apply wall putty
Apply wall putty if you notice any imperfections on the wall after you finished sanding.
Wait before painting/applying new paper
Wait at least 24 hours before painting your home, to let the wall breathe a little. For professional home painting services, you can contact:
Clean up the room
Once the wallpaper is removed, if you don’t intend to do anything else, clean the room and put the furniture back in place. Also, clean the floor, throw away the remains of old paper and leave the room ready for the next activity. Once you remove the wallpaper, create a feature wall to bring more aesthetic to the room.
Now you know how easy it is to remove any type of wallpaper. With the help of these techniques, you will no longer have any problems while you are planning to remove the wallpaper. Thus, the surface is clean again to receive new wall decorations, making your home more beautiful and cosier.
Also, when looking for an apartment for rent in the UAE make sure it is freshly painted to avoid extra home maintenance costs.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s top property blog for more home decorating tips.
