Wallpaper removal is a tiring, messy and time-consuming job. Just wish there was some newly developed product that would make wallpaper removal quick, easy and simple. However there is no quick easy solution to removing wallpaper. And if you do not completely understand what you’re doing or you just start to become frustrated, you could ruin your wallpaper, or otherwise prevent the work from being completed.
One way of avoiding wallpaper removal is to find a surface on which the wallpaper has been applied, and then rub away the wallpaper with a sponge. This sounds easy but in fact it is quite difficult as the sponge needs to be soft, malleable enough to be able to move along the wall surface and it must be able to avoid becoming stuck. If it gets stuck on the wall surface, it becomes impossible to clean and once it dries out, the wallpaper is just as difficult to remove as it was to apply. Therefore, it is advisable to use a different sponge for different wall surfaces.
The second way to avoid wallpaper removal is to try and find where the adhesive was used. This can usually be found by shining a bright light on the wall. Glue is usually a clear, yellowish or brownish substance. You will see that it sticks to the shiny reflective surface very easily. If this is the case, the area has already been treated and therefore wallpaper removal will be difficult. This also means that the area will need to be painted over to cover up any spots that have been missed.
The third way of avoiding wallpaper removal is to ensure that the area is properly ventilated. If the room is damp, mildew may be present and the walls will most likely be warm to touch as they contain moisture. You can often find the area rinsed out with water from a garden hose but if this is not possible, you may need to hire professional water damage cleaners. Alternatively, if the wall covering has been removed, ensure that it is not damaged before mopping it up with a damp cloth. It is also worth investing in some good quality waterproof tape or cling film to seal up the area once it has been mopped. Waterproof tape can help to stop water from penetrating the wall surface and it seals the area to prevent it drying out.
The fourth method that you can use for wallpaper removal without causing any damage is called stencil removal. Wallpaper can be removed with stencils by applying them to the wall in place of paint. A stencil is a movable picture that can be cut out and moved around to hide the damaged areas so that it is easy to replace the wallpaper once it has been removed. You can either purchase ready made stencils or make your own using poster board and wallpaper paste. You should ensure that the paste and the board have been cleaned thoroughly before application so that there is no residue which can cause damage to the surrounding walls.
Fifthly, if all else fails and wallpaper removal is inevitable, a third option that can help you achieve excellent results is called scoring and stapling. Wallpaper can usually be removed using either scoring tools or staplers. Score lines are applied to the wallpaper with a sharp blade to reveal the underneath colour then these are scraped back. This process should leave you with a clean border that can then be replaced. Before applying the scoring blade make sure that it is well sharp so that it cuts easily. Apply, only enough pressure to score and do not apply too much pressure as this could damage the wall.