If you decide to make repairs at home, then you will probably not get along without changing the wallpaper. However, before starting any work, some preparation is required. For example, you should know that it is not always possible to glue wallpapers on old wallpapers. The previous layer must be removed. How to do this, you will learn further.
Why do I need to shoot old wallpaper?
Not all people who plan to make repairs understand that it is necessary to remove the old finish. Indeed, some believe that if old paper wallpapers are firmly glued with bustilate, then they will be a good basis for a new layer. However, this is not quite true.
First of all, keep in mind that the previous finish may lose its former appearance, which may provide negative consequences. For example, over time, the old paper turns yellow, spots appear on the new wallpaper. This defect is almost impossible to fix, you have to redo the repair.
In addition, in some places, the finish may eventually fall off and destroy a new layer. Therefore, the walls should be prepared for repair. Naturally, you need to learn how to quickly tear off old wallpapers.
What tools come in handy for work?
In order for the process to go quickly and “painlessly”, be sure to prepare the tool. You will need:
- several spatulas of different widths;
- a bottle with a spray into which water will be poured;
- damp soft rag;
- detergent with hot water;
- iron with steam function;
- a stepladder or stool.
These tools should be enough. However, different types of wallpaper are removed in different ways. You might need something else.
Preparatory work
Before tearing off old wallpaper, it is necessary to secure the room as much as possible. For example, before starting work, try to remove all the furniture from the room. If this cannot be done, then slide it closer to the center and cover with an unnecessary dense cloth or plastic wrap. In this case, you will protect the furniture from dust and pieces of plaster, which may fall off during the cleaning of the walls.
It is also advisable to remove from the premises all plants and other objects that are not closed in sideboards or walls. Naturally, you should decide where you will get those wallpapers that you remove from the walls.
If you have a wooden floor or carpet, it must be protected from dust and moisture. To do this, use masking tape and oilcloth.
Features of the removal of paper, non-woven and vinyl wallpapers
So, the non-woven layer is the easiest to tear off. The fact is that it is made on the basis of thick paper, which practically does not tear during operation. You just need to gently pick up the strip with a spatula and pull the canvas. The top layer of wallpaper will be removed without any problems. As for paper, eliminating it will be a little more difficult.
Before you tear off old paper-based wallpapers, you need to consider how to moisturize. This is done with a sponge and hot water or steam iron. Note that you need to wet the strips profusely and not entirely, since the moisture dries quickly. Now with the help of a spatula you can proceed with the removal.
As for the vinyl canvas, then the situation is much more complicated. The fact is that water in this case will not help. It is better to use special solutions to remove this type of wallpaper. They are sold at a hardware store.
How to remove washable wallpaper?
Before you tear off old wallpapers of this type, you need to understand that water in this case will not help, since the canvas has a high resistance to moisture. However, there is another way to remove such a finish. First, scratch the canvas well with a scraper or pinion roller. Only then can the coating be moistened and after a while to separate it from the surface.
If washable wallpapers are removed very hard, use a steam pad. It must be applied in places where the canvas does not want to separate from the wall. If you don’t have such a pillow, then use an ordinary steam iron.
Features of the removal of liquid and fiberglass wallpaper
This process is time consuming, but it can be facilitated. Before you remove the old wallpaper based on fiberglass, you will have to go to the store and purchase special tools that help to separate the paintings from the base surface. However, if you can’t do it yourself, you can turn to specialists.
As for liquid wallpaper, to eliminate them, it is enough to moisten the wall, wait until the water saturates the strip and it swells, and then gently pry it with a spatula and remove it from the base.
Before tearing off old wallpapers, keep in mind that you need to do this with the utmost care, as you can damage the walls. With this development of events, you will have to plaster or putty them additionally.
What if the old finish is glued to the bustilate?
This process cannot be called simple, since a very old finish can last for many years. Before you remove the old wallpaper glued to the bustilate, you need to stock up with water, plastic wrap, wire brush, spatula (scraper), spray gun and chemical solvent.
There are several ways to clean the walls from previous finishes:
- steaming;
- soaking;
- mechanical elimination;
- incomplete removal of the old canvas.
Please note that if several layers of decoration are found on your wall, then you need to remove it very carefully. In principle, it is enough to tear off the wallpaper in a small piece. At the same time, make sure that the wall is not damaged, since it is quite possible that a large area of plaster will fall out along with the finish.
Before tearing off old wallpapers, be prepared for the fact that they may not peel off completely. Use soapy hot water to remove residues. Naturally, it will be necessary to further clean the walls of bustilate. A solvent or chemical flush will do just fine with this. Please note that you need to handle the surface carefully so as not to harm your health.
If the decoration was carried out a very long time, and the canvases were attached to a concrete wall, then it is not easy to remove them by ordinary soaking. Use a steam iron to facilitate work.
Useful Tips
Before tearing off old wallpapers, check out some tricks to help you do this quickly and easily:
- The wall needs to be moistened with a roller or sponge, while making sure that the liquid does not drain down on the wallpaper. In this case, they simply can not get wet well. In order for the moisture to work, you must wait about 15 minutes.
- Note that the water must be hot.
- If you do not have a steamer, use an ordinary wet sheet and a simple iron. To do this, attach the fabric to the wall and iron it for a few seconds.
- After eliminating the wallpaper, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the walls of adhesive residue. To do this, it is recommended to use special solvents that are sold in stores. You can also use a pumice stone or scraper.
- You need to start removing the canvas from the seams. In this case, be especially careful in the area of switches and sockets. Try not to leave a single extra piece on the walls.
That's all. Now you know how easy it is to peel old wallpapers yourself. It won’t take much time. Good luck