Whether you’ve gotten sick of your current wallpaper, or it has just become old, changing the wallpaper is an easy way to give a space an upgrade. However, it is important to learn how to safely remove wallpaper without damaging the wall.
Scratching and stripping off the layers of old wallpaper can wreak havoc on the underneath walls. It can leave them scarred and hollowed. And before you try to redo these scarred walls with painting ideas, you should restore them to perfection for the wallpaper to go on smoothly and look good.
Here are a few steps to follow when taking down your old wallpaper and replacing it with a new one.
1. Prepare the space: Begin by preparing the space by removing curtains, switch plates, outlet covers, and any artworks. Lay down a drop cloth in the area where you’re going to be working. This will ensure you do not ruin any other area of the house in this process.
2. Test the adhesion: Test the wallpaper’s adhesion by starting to peel the wallpaper away from the surface at a corner or seam. If the wallpaper comes up easily without tearing the underlying drywall paper, pulling the wallpaper away from the entire wall can be done easily.
3. Make the solution: If the wallpaper does not come off easily, take a pump sprayer and fill it halfway with hot water from the sink and the other half with a fabric softener.
4. Spray the walls: Using the pump sprayer, spray this mixture on the walls and saturate the wallpaper evenly.
5. Remove the wallpaper: Once the wallpaper begins to bubble out, start removing the wallpaper. Start scraping the wallpaper from the seams and bubbling sections with a wide putty knife. Do not gauge the wall surface. If the wallpaper is stubborn, repeat the process several times until you’re finished with the room.
6. Clean up the residue: To clean the leftovers, make a mixture of very hot water and a small amount of TSP or tri-sodium phosphate. Wipe down the walls using the mixture and a large sponge. Spray the wall or wipe them with clean water one last time and let the walls sit to dry for a few days until they are completely dry.
The process of removing the old wallpaper tends to leave scarring and pitting on the walls. You will need to restore the smoothness of the wall before painting it again.
1. Sand the walls: Begin by lightly sanding any rough spots or areas on the wall. Do this until they are smooth.
2. Patch the walls: Then, check for any damaged areas like cracks and holes on the wall. Fill those holes and cracks using drywall mud and a putty knife. Wait until the mud dries, and then sand those areas for making the surface smooth.
3. Prime the walls: Once the entire surface is smooth, using a roller or a paintbrush apply a coat of high-quality primer on the walls. This will give a smooth surface for the wall paint to go on.
4. Paint the wall: Your canvas is ready now and you can go ahead and apply a fresh coat of paint on the walls per your living room colour combination.
Removing the wallpaper and repainting it can be a tedious task. It is always a great idea to hire professional service providers for such jobs. They will not just make the task easy for you but will also make sure no damage happens to the walls.
Aapka Painter is a painting service provider that provides end to end painting solutions. Aapka Painter has revolutionized the way homes get painted by bringing in technology, automation, and service guarantee. Aapka Painter operates with a team of trained painters and managers to guarantee job completion and satisfaction.
