In recent years, plasterboard sheets have become very popular. They are easy to install and quite practical. Often at the finish stage they are painted or wallpaper glued. But nothing lasts forever, so over the years such coatings become worthless. In today's situation, we will consider the second case. How to remove wallpaper from drywall without damaging the sheet itself?
Why do I need to remove the old coating?
For any drywall wallpapering, you need to have a prepared surface. Moreover, even new sheets are being prepared. Why is it so important to remove the old coating? The fact is that when pasting new wallpapers may not look so aesthetically pleasing. Unnecessary stripes will be visible and other defects will be visible. In addition, the old coating can hide fungus and mold. Therefore, it is important to know how to remove old wallpaper from drywall.
What do you need to prepare?
For the operation to succeed, we need:
- Spatulas. There should be several, different sizes. Spatulas are necessary in order to pry off the edges of the coating and remove fragments of old wallpaper.
- Knife. It must be sharp. It is advisable to purchase a clerical. They need to make incisions in some places. This will facilitate the process of removing old wallpaper.
- Wallpaper "tiger". This is a special tool resembling a needle roller. Serves to destroy the paper layer. If you do not know how to remove non-woven wallpaper from drywall, you must definitely prepare this “tiger”. It breaks through the waterproof cover and prepares it for wetting.
- Roller or foam sponge. With this item we will moisten the surface of drywall sheets. Tool sizes may vary. The main thing is that it is convenient to work.
- Capacity with water.
- Moisture-proofing material. It can be polyethylene or scotch tape. Protect sockets and the floor from water.
Ways
There are several options for how to remove paper wallpaper from drywall. The easiest option is to do it yourself. The adhesive composition loses its properties over time, and sometimes you can remove large pieces without much effort. But there are situations when the wallpaper sits tight.
If you need to remove wallpaper from the ceiling, you can use a spray gun to soak the coating. And then you can already work with a spatula. But you need to soak the ceiling in small sections. The same applies to walls. Immediately work on the entire surface will not work. In addition, drywall has the ability to absorb moisture. Therefore, you can not apply a lot of water to the coating. The best option is to work with a partner. It uses high temperature water. This is the answer to the question of how to quickly remove wallpaper from drywall.
Other options
You can go the other way. So, some use water-heating units. These are steaming irons and steam generators. Experts say that this is a safer option, since there is no direct effect of water and drywall does not absorb moisture so much.
Another option is to use a special brush to remove old paper wallpaper. It can be a perforator nozzle or a standard tiger. The essence of the work is the mechanical effect on the coating. Such tools are available at any hardware store.
You can also use special compounds with increased penetration. Among such funds, ATLAS ALPAN can be distinguished. The composition sights on the old glue and does not affect the drywall sheet.
How to easily remove wallpaper from drywall with a special composition?
The work is carried out in several stages:
- On the wall are wallpaper "tiger". This is necessary for better absorption of the composition. This work is carried out without fail if the wallpaper is moisture resistant. Otherwise, the composition will not be able to penetrate inside.
- Preparing a special tool purchased earlier in the store. Usually, the proportions are indicated by the manufacturer on the package.
- The finished solution is applied to the surface.
- Waiting time (approximately 15-20 minutes) for the old glue to soften.
- Using a knife and a spatula, tear off the old coating. At the same time, the wallpaper should go in large pieces.
But you need to understand that for each type of wallpaper provides its own approach. Further we will consider some popular situations.
Remove thin paper wallpaper
Before you begin, you need to check the strength of the paper coating on the wall or ceiling. The operation begins in the most inconspicuous area. These can be places that are usually hidden by furniture. In the course of work we will need:
- Sponge.
- Capacity with warm water.
- Several spatulas of different widths.
So, first soak the sponge in warm water and moisten a small area on the wall. Movement should be from top to bottom. So we not only moisturize the surface, but also prevent the absorption of excess water by drywall. Then you need to wait 10 minutes. Next, go to mechanical procedures. With a spatula, peel off old pieces of wallpaper. But you need to do the work gradually - large sections are divided into several small ones.
Vinyl
Vinyl wallpapers are also often found on plasterboard walls. How to remove wallpaper from drywall in this case? Here, the work is done a little differently. In order for moisture to penetrate well into the structure of vinyl, you need to soak the surface not just with water, but with an adhesive solution. The latter is prepared in the proportion of ¼ from the norm. The solution is also applied from top to bottom, using a clean sponge. But since the vinyl wallpaper is very dense, the adhesive may not soften the first time. Therefore, you need to apply the solution several times.
The same goes for waiting time. The thicker the wallpaper, the longer it takes to wait. After wetting a certain area, you need to make an incision at the place where the wallpaper adjoins the baseboard. In order not to damage the latter, the edge of the sheet is picked up with a spatula. Due to the thicker base, vinyl wallpapers peel off more easily than paper ones - in large and solid pieces. But sometimes after tearing off, some fragments of wallpaper remain. Removing them is pretty simple. It is enough to moisten the area in the same way and apply a spatula.
Washable and non-woven wallpaper
To dismantle this coating, you need to prepare:
- Construction spatula.
- Stationery knife.
- Warm water.
- Sponge.
- Wallpaper "tiger".
The operation itself is performed step by step:
- The surface is treated with wallpaper "tiger". It is advisable to walk in several stages.
- A sponge moistens a specific area on the wall.
- The spatula removes the base layer.
The remains of the wallpaper are removed in the same way, except for the use of the "tiger". So, the surface is wetted with warm water, and then a putty knife is used. And if the work is done for the first time (that is, all the wallpapers are still on the wall), you need to cut them into several strips. This will make it easier to dismantle the base.
The liquid wallpaper
It will be more difficult to dismantle them. To do this, use the mechanical method. It is necessary to use a grinding machine or a building hair dryer. The last thing you need is to warm the surface to a state in which the paint will be easily removed with a spatula. It will take a long time to heat up. Therefore, you can go the other way - use a grinding machine. However, in this situation, you can damage the surface. Therefore, you need to work extremely carefully. Also, using a grinder will generate a lot of dust. You must have a respirator and safety glasses. It is necessary to process the wall in small sections, moving from top to bottom.
Another option is the use of a grinder with a special circle. This tool is no worse than a grinder, experts say. A grinder allows you to save a lot of time.
Conclusion
So, we found out how to remove wallpaper from drywall. This operation is not so complicated, so everyone can cope with it, even without experience. However, before you remove the wallpaper from drywall, you need to prepare all the tools in advance. It is advisable to have a steam generator. So you remove the paper coating without harm to the drywall.