Best way to remove wallpaper from walls...?

AdamSnow

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 2002
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I think there is some "wallpaper remover" solution or something that will make it peel off...

I could be wrong though.
 

ConwayJim

Senior member
Dec 16, 2004
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Originally posted by: AdamSnow
I think there is some "wallpaper remover" solution or something that will make it peel off...

I could be wrong though.


Your right, if you go to a local hardware store they should have it. I forget what it's called, but you smother it on your walls, and the paper starts to peel right off. Do your self a favor and get lots of garbage bags, your gonna need em for sure
 

Gothgar

Lifer
Sep 1, 2004
13,429
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Originally posted by: ConwayJim
Originally posted by: AdamSnow
I think there is some "wallpaper remover" solution or something that will make it peel off...

I could be wrong though.


Your right, if you go to a local hardware store they should have it. I forget what it's called, but you smother it on your walls, and the paper starts to peel right off. Do your self a favor and get lots of garbage bags, your gonna need em for sure

it is right by the wallpaper, and you can get the liquid form or a spray on form, liquid for a lot, spray on for a little, the liquid kind you roll on.
 
Jun 19, 2004
10,860
1
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1. Right click and select "Properties"

2. Go to the "Desktop" tab and select your new wall paper there.

Enjoy!! :)
 

mobobuff

Lifer
Apr 5, 2004
11,099
1
81
Originally posted by: MisterJackson
1. Right click and select "Properties"

2. Go to the "Desktop" tab and select your new wall paper there.

Enjoy!! :)

.52/10
 

NathanBWF

Golden Member
May 29, 2003
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Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
I could swear that steaming is one option. The chemical route is also a viable otpion though.


Yeah I was thinking of renting a steamer, but want to be sure that I won't wreck the drywall with it. We want to paint the walls after we remove the wallpaper and I was worried that the steamer might damage the walls or something. Had the same worry about the chemical removers as well...although I'm assuming they are designed specifically for wallpaper removal and shouldn't be strong enough to hurt the walls...
 

lozina

Lifer
Sep 10, 2001
11,711
8
81
don't forget to cover your floors with contruction paper- trust me, the little effort to do that will save you alot of time later should you get some of that crap on your floors.

best ways to apply wallpaper remover are those pump sprays... just soak the paper and grab yourself a beer- letting it sit for a while. then come in later with a nice flat scraper (not the angled one for paint removal). Use the scraper just to get a corner loose which you can use to carefully peel a large seciton off. If it's poor quality glue that was used or many layers of wallpaper or improperly prepared surface before original wallpaper was put up expect a big pain in the ass.
 

NathanBWF

Golden Member
May 29, 2003
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I'm thinking the chemical remover stuff is the way to go. It's probably a whole lot cheaper than renting a steamer. I'll pop over to the home depot later and see what they have.

Thanks to all for the replies!
 

LeonarD26

Senior member
Feb 12, 2004
826
1
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I found that spray stuff didn't work very well, even after letting it soak in the wallpaper for a few hours. I think this may depend on the type of adhesive used to put the paper on the walls. The steamer my father inlaw had worked great and did not damage the drywall at all.
 

DeMeo

Senior member
Oct 23, 2003
781
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0
I have one of those wagner power steamers. It's the best method I've used so far. I've had mine for a dozen years or so, even loaned it out a few times.
They go for around 50 bucks, well worth it.
Take a razor blade (utility knife) and score the wall (random slices into the paper). Hold the steamer in place for a bit. It's a good idea to hold a sponge under it to catch the dripping water. you can rewet with the spnge too. After a couple of minutes, you should be able to easily scrape and pull the paper off.
 

TechnoKid

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2001
5,575
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Make sure if you use the chemical sprays or whatnot that you use that special tool that puts a bazillion micro holes into the wallpaper so that the stuff can acutally soak through into the glue.
 

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO WALLPAPER REMOVAL

Step 1: Kill yourself

note - step one is optional, but will save you a lot of grief

Step 2: Score the paper to allow your remover solution / steam to get in there and work

note - try not to push so hard that you are scoring the drywal underneath

Step 3: Swab walls with slightly diluted fabric softener

note - fabric softener is way cheaper and just as effective as wallpaper removal products

Step 4: Steam walls

note - if you are lucky step 3 will be enough
note 2 - if you are half as lucky as it takes for the above note to come true, you will be having a three way with Jennifer Alba and Jennifer Garner tonight

Step 5: Scrape/peel wall paper off walls

note - plastic spackle blades work well here. Expect this step to take two to three times the amout of time you budget for

Step 5: Find second layer of wall paper underneath

note - this is a good time to reconsider step one.

Step 6: spend inordinate amount of time removing layer two

note - bet you wish you followed my advice now!

Step 7: Realize that the huge pile of removed paper sitting on the floor is drying up and permanently adhering itself to the floor.

Step 8: Repeat Step 1

note - If you were smart, this step is now overkill

Step 9: Make promise to yourself to never ever ever put up wallpaper again in your life

note - one exception: if it is to help sell your house to someone else...

 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
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www.slatebrookfarm.com
<---- done it many times

It depends on the type of wallpaper... sometimes, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms, the wallpaper surface is actually like a vinyl. You can steam it or apply chemicals to it all week and nothing's going to happen. There's a scorer thing that you move back and forth across the wallpaper to put small shallow punctures through the surface... It's about a 3 dollar item. Why not just buy a black &amp; decker steamer for about $20?

And, like everyone else said: cover the floor, or, when you're done removing the wallpaper from the walls, you have to repeat the process for the floor.
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
Yeah, buy a Paper Tiger. Worth its weight in gold. That + some remover chemical will work for most walls.
 

MrChad

Lifer
Aug 22, 2001
13,507
3
81
Originally posted by: Mwilding
STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO WALLPAPER REMOVAL

Step 1: Kill yourself

note - step one is optional, but will save you a lot of grief

Step 2: Score the paper to allow your remover solution / steam to get in there and work

note - try not to push so hard that you are scoring the drywal underneath

Step 3: Swab walls with slightly diluted fabric softener

note - fabric softener is way cheaper and just as effective as wallpaper removal products

Step 4: Steam walls

note - if you are lucky step 3 will be enough
note 2 - if you are half as lucky as it takes for the above note to come true, you will be having a three way with Jennifer Alba and Jennifer Garner tonight

Step 5: Scrape/peel wall paper off walls

note - plastic spackle blades work well here. Expect this step to take two to three times the amout of time you budget for

Step 5: Find second layer of wall paper underneath

note - this is a good time to reconsider step one.

Step 6: spend inordinate amount of time removing layer two

note - bet you wish you followed my advice now!

Step 7: Realize that the huge pile of removed paper sitting on the floor is drying up and permanently adhering itself to the floor.

Step 8: Repeat Step 1

note - If you were smart, this step is now overkill

Step 9: Make promise to yourself to never ever ever put up wallpaper again in your life

note - one exception: if it is to help sell your house to someone else...

LOL. Sounds about right.

Removing wallpaper can be a tremendous pain in the ass.