How To Strip Wallpaper
“This wallpaper is terrible – one of us will have to go!”
2 minute read
“This wallpaper is terrible – one of us will have to go!”
The famous last words of Irish playwright and wit Oscar Wilde are very amusing – but alas, the wallpaper outlasted him. To rid yourself of a wallpaper whose time has come, follow these easy steps:
- Use a stripping knife to score the paper (be careful not to damage the plaster).
- Tape plastic over sockets and switch off all circuit breakers for the room’s electrical outlets.
- Use a sponge to dampen the wall with hot water and a few drops of washing up liquid.
- Wait for the water to soak in, then use a wide stripping knife or steam stripper to peel off paper in large pieces.
- If there are patches of residue left after you’ve remove the old wallpaper, wet these areas again and gently lift the residue off using a stripping knife.
- Once the residual paste has been lifted, use a suitable filler to smooth over any holes and sand flat any imperfections after the filler has dried.
- Once your walls are smooth, wash them with detergent/sugar soap and water and dry with a clean cloth or towel.
- If plaster is glossy, sand this down so that the wallpaper paste will stick better.
*How To articles are intended as advice only. Please refer to your completion documents for specific information on lease and covenant restrictions and maintenance of your home.*
