Most people don’t bother with this at all, but glue new canvases directly onto the old wallpaper, which absolutely should not be done.
Firstly, if you have old wallpaper or the slightest fragments of it, the wall surface will never be ideal. In other words, immediately after pasting the new wallpaper, as they say, all the irregularities and bumps will be visible.
Secondly, old wallpaper can fall away at the most inopportune moment along with new ones - and all your work will go down the drain.
Thirdly, harmful bacteria often form under old wallpaper and mold fungi, which should be gotten rid of, and this is additional trouble.
If you are planning a long-term effect and want the new wallpaper to last quite a long time and the walls to look good after renovation, you should remove absolutely all old layer wallpaper and glue, without leaving the slightest fragments.
Materials and preparations
How correct and easy remove old ones paper wallpaper? In order to easily and quickly remove battered old paintings from the walls, you need to prepare in advance all the necessary tools.
You will need:
- spatulas - narrow and wide;
- ordinary warm water or a special wallpaper remover;
- a steam mop, which can significantly speed up and make work easier;
- a device for perforating the surface of wallpaper (the so-called wallpaper tiger, or a roller with needles);
- polyethylene film;
- masking tape;
- wallpaper and drywall knife;
- a tray and a paint roller (you can get by with a bucket with a rag or sponge).
Before you start work, you need to cover the floor with film or newspapers, and turn off the power to the electrics, since liquid can get on the ends of the wires and ultimately lead to short circuit. Therefore, it is advisable to seal sockets and switches with masking tape. Having protected yourself, you can begin an important mission.
Removing paper-backed vinyl wallpaper
These wallpapers are easy to remove, since they are just a vinyl film that is glued to a paper backing.
Before removing, you need to scratch the wallpaper with a knife or a roller with needles, then wet it well with liquid or water and leave for several hours so that the moisture seeps under polymer layer and destroyed the glue.
A horizontal cut is made at the top with a knife - and the wallpaper is removed in whole strips when you pull it by the edge. However, pieces of the paper layer may remain on the wall. They also need to be moistened with water and removed with a spatula.
Removing washable and non-woven wallpaper
Since the former have a waterproof layer, in order for moisture to get inside, cuts or holes must be made. The same applies to the second ones, which consist of synthetic fibers, more durable than paper. After this, the wall is moistened with liquid.
After some time, the glue breaks down and the wallpaper comes off on its own.
Removing classic paper sheets
But this is already a rather complex and time-consuming procedure. This is due to the fact that this wallpaper immediately torn, as a result, they need to be removed in small pieces. The work is especially complicated by the presence of several layers of wallpaper.
How can you remove old wallpaper? How to peel off old paper wallpaper safely for walls and what is the best and easiest way to do it?
Exists four ways to remove paper wallpaper:
Removing paper wallpaper from plasterboard walls
The difficulty lies in the fact that the drywall is covered at the top with a paper layer, which must be left intact.
In such a situation, most the best way- this is not the use of water, but special means, dissolving exclusively wallpaper glue.
Particular care should be taken when working with a spatula. It should be noted that if the wallpaper is glued to PVA, then most likely you will not be able to remove it without damaging the drywall. So it’s better not to waste precious time, but simply change the drywall boards.
For those who doubt their abilities, we suggest watching a video about quick and simple removal old paper wallpaper from the walls:
That, in fact, is all the wisdom you need to know when removing old wallpaper that has lost its former attractiveness. And then everything depends on your diligence, scrupulousness and speed of work. As they say, patience and work will grind everything down!
Paper-based wallpaper is periodically replaced with new ones. Removing old coating is a rather difficult process that requires both strength and time. The speed of cleaning the wall surface from them depends on several factors, the main ones being the type of material and the glue to which the sheets were glued. The article suggests learning how to remove old paper wallpaper from a wall with your own hands.
The oldest known material paper wallpaper is used for wall decoration. If previously the canvases were glued overlapping, then with a significant improvement in the quality of wallpaper paper, a decrease in their thickness, more saturated and varied patterns, the method of gluing them has also changed - the seams have become butt, which is especially difficult to do and requires more careful preparation of the walls, due to the thinness material.
If modern paper wallpaper is glued to a wall with old wallpaper without removing it, then after drying:
- All wallpapers are very stretched. In this case, any unevenness or roughness becomes the reason due to which the material begins to lag behind the wall.
- Old coatings may have dust or stains. There is no chance that they will not appear on the new wallpaper, especially if it is white paper wallpaper, and will not “decorate” the room after renovation.
- New canvases may simply not stick well over old ones.
- The glue used for gluing new wallpaper contains water, which will soften the old layer unevenly. This will cause bubbles to form in one place and the material to stick firmly in another.
Tip: To prevent such troubles, you should play it safe and thoroughly clean the wall of old finishing material.
There are several types of paper wallpaper:
- Simplex or single-layer.
- Duplex or two-layer paper wallpaper.
- Triplex or three-layer. This type of material is thicker, which allows it to hide some unevenness on the walls when glued correctly and, accordingly, they have a higher price.
- Paper wallpaper with acrylic. Otherwise they are called embossed with acrylic coating. Such materials have great strength and durability. They are more moisture resistant when glued and do not get very wet, which distinguishes them from ordinary paper wallpaper.
- Moisture-resistant, washable paper wallpaper with latex coating.
The type of wallpaper pasted also determines the method of removing it from the walls. On old rolls, it is advisable to find a label or a special label with symbols indicating how to remove the material from the walls.
It could be:
- Removal without residue.
- Removal wet.
- Delamination upon removal.
- The embossing is not deformed.
- Double wallpaper with embossing on the top layer.
Some people decide to neglect the process of removing old wallpaper and glue new ones on top of them, but this should not be done. There are a number of reasons for this:
If you leave old wallpaper on the walls, then, subsequently, the surface for gluing may be uneven, and appearance new wallpaper unsatisfactory
New wallpaper pasted over old ones may come off due to its heavy weight.
Over time, mold can form under old wallpaper, so it is better to remove it to get rid of bacteria
Preparatory work
Before you begin removing wallpaper, you need to prepare the room. To begin with, the room in which the work will take place should be covered with plastic film and attach it to the baseboards with masking tape.
In addition, be sure to turn off the power in the room to prevent a short circuit. We also advise you to seal all sockets and switches with tape.
Ways to remove old wallpaper from walls
There are three ways to remove old wallpaper from the surface of the walls.
To begin with, small cuts should be made on the surface of the wallpaper so that the liquid completely saturates the wallpaper. Then the surface of the wallpaper is moistened with water and left for some time. After this, the old coating is removed using a spatula.
Instead of water, you can use special liquids to remove wallpaper. Please note that such products are absolutely harmless to humans. The wallpaper remover must first be diluted with water and then applied to the old coating (no cuts are required). After a few minutes, you can easily remove the old wallpaper using a spatula.
If you are lucky enough to have a steam generator on your household, then this method will suit you perfectly. You can also use a steam iron. When old wallpaper is treated with steam, the glue underneath swells, and the canvas can be easily removed from the wall.
If the glue that was used does not dissolve with water or special liquids, then the wallpaper will have to be scraped off using a spatula or a sander. Note that the spatula must be sharpened.
Important! When removing wallpaper in this way, take care of respiratory protection and also cover the furniture in the room.
How to quickly peel off old wallpaper
Since there is great variety, then the methods for removing them are slightly different.
Removing paper wallpaper
All you need to do is simply moisten them with water or a special liquid. First, apply liquid to the surface of the wallpaper using a sponge or sprayer. Repeat the process twice with an interval of 15-20 minutes.
Then, using a putty knife, lift up the wallpaper, starting at the seams. If in some places the wallpaper does not come away from the wall well, repeat the wetting procedure.
Since they consist of two layers, before wetting them, it is necessary to make horizontal cuts on the surface. After top layer vinyl wallpaper gets wet enough that it can be easily separated from the backing. To do this, you need to pull the wallpaper away from the wall with a uniform movement, starting from the lower corners of the wallpaper strip.
If the bottom layer of vinyl wallpaper remains in good condition and is tightly glued to the wall, then it can be left as a lining for new wallpaper. Otherwise, this layer is also moistened with water and scraped off with a spatula.
Since they consist of synthetic fibers, they are a more durable material than paper wallpaper and require more time to soak. As is the case with vinyl wallpaper, you also first need to make cuts in them, and then do the same actions as with regular paper wallpaper.
Since washable wallpaper consists of two layers, first you need to destroy the integrity of the top waterproof one. This can be done with a wire brush or toothed roller. You will just need to walk the appropriate tool over the surface, and then start wetting with water.
The procedure of exposure to water may have to be repeated several times, and after that, using a spatula, you can remove the wallpaper from the wall. You can also use a steam generator instead of water.
To begin with, we note that they can be used several times after being removed from the wall.
To remove such wallpaper from the surface of the walls, they should also be moistened generously warm water, and then clean off using a scraper or metal spatula.
How to remove wallpaper from drywall
The process presents some difficulties, since this material is covered with a paper layer. If the surface of the drywall has been coated, then we advise you to use a special remover to remove the wallpaper.
Important! If the drywall was not coated with a primer before gluing the old wallpaper, then it is almost impossible to remove the wallpaper from it without damaging the paper layer.
The easiest way to remove old wallpaper from drywall is to use wallpaper glue. You just need to apply it to the surface of the wallpaper and wait until it swells. After this, the wallpaper can be easily removed from the wall with a spatula. Old wallpaper on drywall can also be steamed.
Important! If PVA glue was used to glue old wallpaper, then the sheets of drywall will need to be replaced or try to remove the wallpaper along with the cardboard layer. This process must be carried out using a painting knife, and the sheets of drywall should subsequently be puttied and primed.
Are you planning a renovation and don’t know how to remove old wallpaper? At first glance, there is nothing complicated about this, but each type of wallpaper material requires its own, special approach. In this article we will look at some quick and effective ways get rid of the old coating, depending on the type of wallpaper.
Removing wallpaper the traditional way
The easiest and most proven way to get rid of old wallpaper is to use water. First of all, turn off the power supply in the apartment, and then cover the sockets and switches with masking tape. To make cleaning easier after renovation, cover the floor with plastic film and secure it with tape so that all dust and debris fall on it.
Need to soak the wallpaper hot water with the addition of dishwashing detergent. Wait 10-20 minutes and wet again. When the wallpaper swells, remove it using a spatula, starting from the bottom, prying up the edge of the canvas and removing it. Please note that you should not treat the entire wall; it is better to wet only part of the wall, during which time the old coating will not have time to dry. The remains of the wallpaper can be rubbed down with coarse sandpaper, but so as not to damage the putty.
How to remove non-woven wallpaper
This type of wallpaper consists of two layers: the bottom one is made of cellulose and the top one is made of synthetic fibers. Usually the top layer is well separated from paper base, just pick up a piece of non-woven fabric from below.
First, try removing this material by moisturizing it. If this method did not work to remove the wall decoration, then try using the “wallpaper tiger”. This is a special device that can perforate wallpaper without damaging the putty layer. Even easier, you can use the sharp tip of a spatula or a spiked roller to make notches along the surface. This is done so that moisture penetrates inside and reaches the paper layer, since non-woven fabric repels water. The wallpaper is moistened with water or a vinegar solution and can be easily removed as described above.
How to remove vinyl wallpaper
Vinyl wallpaper is a combination of two layers: the top layer, covered with polyvinyl chloride, and the bottom fabric or paper. PVC gives the surface water-repellent properties. Most often, these wallpapers are glued to PVA, which is very difficult to remove. Water and special liquids will not help here.
IN in this case use a mechanical cleaning method - a grinding machine. First, remove the wallpaper using a spatula, and then, pressing the sander firmly against the wall surface, remove the remaining fragments. Please note that this method generates a lot of dust, so you must use a respirator and safety glasses. If you don’t have a sander, you can use a piece of coarse-grained sandpaper.
Subtleties of removing washable wallpaper
Washable wallpaper does not allow water to pass through, so it is impossible to remove it the traditional way (by soaking). But there is another way - to use a steam generator. Under the influence of hot steam, the cellulose and glue swell and simply move away from the wall. If you do not have a steam generator or an iron with a steamer in your home, you can use a damp cloth. To do this, attach it to the wall and iron it with a hot iron. This way you treat the entire wall. After this, pry up the edge of the wallpaper with a spatula and remove it. They should easily come away from the wall, completely.
Secrets of removing liquid wallpaper
Liquid wallpaper is very easy to remove - just wet the surface with water, let the material swell, and you can remove the coating using a scraper or wide spatula. If a thick layer of coating has been applied, then the surface must be wetted several times. Liquid wallpaper is convenient because it can be applied to the wall many times. To do this, it is enough to dry the removed coating, and when reuse just wet with water and apply again to the surface.
If included liquid wallpaper there was a lot of plaster and adhesive, they can be removed using construction hair dryer. To do this, the surface of the wall is heated with it, and after the material begins to crack from exposure to hot air, it is removed with a spatula.
How to clean drywall from old wallpaper
If, before gluing the old wallpaper, the drywall was initially puttied, then to remove the wallpaper you can use special chemicals that dissolve wallpaper glue well. But keep in mind that this solution is diluted with water, so it cannot be used in large quantities. The fact is that drywall itself easily absorbs moisture, losing its strength and deforming.
Another way is to use the cheapest wallpaper glue. Dilute it and apply it to the surface in an even layer. It takes a long time to dry and at the same time tightens the material, which is why the wallpaper easily comes off the wall.
If none of the methods work, then you can remove the wallpaper with the top layer of drywall. Since it consists of glued sheets of paper, it is enough to simply pick up the topmost one and carefully separate it using a molar knife.
Removing old wallpaper from a wall is a painstaking process, but it won't take much time. Be sure to remove any remaining glue and paper to ensure your new wallpaper lasts a long time and looks beautiful.
Repair is accompanied by replacement wall covering, and you have to decide how to remove the old wallpaper. The process requires effort and differs depending on the type of base and the quality of the canvas. The old coating is removed in various ways.
Preparing to remove wallpaper
Before starting dismantling, it is important to prepare workplace. The old coating does not always come off easily - you should have tools at hand. Safety precautions are no less important.
Taking Precautions
It will not be possible to remove the old coating in absolute cleanliness. The plaster may come off along with the wallpaper, old paint, dust. To preserve furniture or floors, you need to prepare the room.
Preparing the room:
- Completely turn off the electricity in the room.
- Seal sockets and switches with masking or stationery tape.
- Take out the furniture.
- Lay film or newspapers on the floor.
- Seal the baseboards.
- If there is any furniture left, move it to the center and cover it.
- Leave a wet cloth at the entrance - it traps dust.
What tools are needed for dismantling?
Used to remove old coating miscellaneous equipment. The material matters - some wallpapers are easy to remove, others need to be wetted or treated special composition. But there is a list of basic tools.
You will need:
- Gloves.
- Spatula.
- A bucket of warm water.
- Dishwashing liquid.
- Roller.
- Sponge.
- brush with metal bristles.
- Wallpaper removal.
- Iron.
Basic methods and means for removing old wallpaper
Each material has its own characteristics. How to remove it depends on the type of old canvas.
Using water
The simplest and most obvious method. By wetting, you can easily remove old self-adhesive, non-woven, paper and even vinyl wallpaper.
Tools:
- A bucket of water at room temperature.
- Roller.
- Construction spatula.
- Stationery knife.
Algorithm of actions:
Video
The full process can be seen in the video.
Mechanical method (steam and needle roller)
By using this method You can easily remove almost any old coating. Having a steam generator is a great bonus at work. An alternative is an iron, but you will need a sheet or piece of cotton fabric.
Suitable for paper, non-woven, vinyl wallpaper.
Inventory:
- Steam generator or iron with sheets.
- Container with water.
- A wallpaper tiger (also known as a needle roller), but a utility knife will also work.
- Spatula.
How to remove wallpaper with steam:
Video
A life hack for removing wallpaper using a steam generator, as well as comments, can be seen in the video.
Special chemicals
If the wallpaper is tight, remove it traditional ways difficult. To save time and achieve the best results, special chemical solutions. They are sold in construction supermarkets and help quickly remove old sheets.
What wallpaper is best to use for?
Suitable for non-woven, paper, washable and textile wallpapers.
Required equipment:
- Roller.
- Rubberized gloves.
- Basin with water.
- Wallpaper tiger (if not, then you can use a knife).
- Spatula.
Step by step instructions
- Dilute the substance with water according to the instructions.
- Roll the walls with wallpaper tiger or stab them with a knife.
- Apply the composition to the walls with a roller.
- Leave the wallpaper to soak ( exact time is on the package).
- Simply pry the canvas with a spatula and tear it off.
Video
Details can be seen in the video.
Removing old Soviet wallpaper requires effort. Often they are glued to a layer of newspapers, under which there is old plaster. To begin with, you can try the traditional method - soak with water and peel off. If that doesn't work, use liquid.
Features of removal depending on the base and material
Different coatings have their own characteristics. This must be taken into account when choosing a removal method.
- Vinyl. They leave easily. It is enough to soak them in water and remove them after 20-30 minutes.
- Paper. They come off easily if they are glued with high-quality glue (universal “Methylane”). Remove with a knife or spatula. If they do not come off, soak them in water or steam them with an iron.
- Non-woven. They have two layers, the top layer is removed. Ideally, it is better to steam old canvases or use a wallpaper remover.
- Liquid. They are afraid of moisture. To “unstick” them, just soak the wall; after a while, the coating will begin to peel away from the walls.
- Washable. Processed protective composition, impermeable to moisture. You need to roll the walls with a needle roller, apply wallpaper remover, and remove after a while.
- Glass wallpaper. Easy to remove. You need to tear the sheets and fill the space under them with water. After 45 minutes they will start to lag behind. Or immediately fill it with a special liquid and easily tear it off.
- Self-adhesive. Old sheets come off easily; to speed up the process, you can moisten them with boiling water or use a hair dryer.
How to peel off wallpaper depending on the type of surface?
To remove old coating from walls, it is worth considering the type of surface. This will simplify the work and eliminate additional manipulations afterwards.
Drywall
The material is not resistant to moisture. Using water or a chemical composition will not work, as it will lead to deformation of the drywall. You can remove the old coating with steam (iron) or peel it off manually, using a knife. Work carefully so that the knife does not scratch the drywall.
Concrete walls
Concrete is not afraid of water and high temperature. You can remove the old coating in any way, you need to start from the material of the canvas. Paper ones can be easily removed with water, washable, textile, vinyl and others - remove mechanically or chemical composition.
Wooden surface (plywood, chipboard, fiberboard, gypsum board)
Wood and plywood are afraid of moisture, and if the surface was not additionally treated before wallpapering, it will not be possible to remove the canvas using the soaking method. You can remove the coating from painted walls with steam. Win-win option- composition for removing old wallpaper. It doesn't deform wooden surface and will help remove the coating from minimum cost time. Or carefully peel off the wallpaper with a knife or spatula.
The best way to quickly and easily remove at home
To remove the coating quickly and without extra effort It is recommended to use a wallpaper remover. Chemicals a convenient option for the home - harmless to health, suitable for all surfaces (wood, drywall), minimum dirt and dust during operation. You can remove old canvases and use steam - the result is good, but if you don’t have a steam generator, labor-intensive work awaits.
How to remove old ceiling wallpaper?
Removing old wallpaper from the ceiling depends on the material. It is inconvenient to use an iron on the ceiling; the only option is to soak it with water or a chemical solution.
You will need:
- Stepladder or table.
- Water container.
- Spatula.
- Roller.
- Masking tape.
- Film.
For equipment, prepare glasses, gloves, a hat, and old clothes.
Step by step instructions:
- Take out the furniture.
- Turn off the electricity, remove the chandelier (preferably).
- Seal sockets and baseboards with tape.
- Cover the floor.
- Soak the roller in water or special solution water based.
- Get the ceiling wet.
- Wait 25-40 minutes until the canvases are soaked.
- Carefully pry the sheet with a spatula and remove.
- Do not turn on the electricity, wait for the ceiling to dry.
What to do if the wallpaper is glued with PVA or bustilate glue?
If the old coating is glued with PVA glue, it will not be possible to remove it with a spatula or scraper. Ideally, you need a device - grinder or a grinder with sandpaper attachments. The process is dusty, but the result is worth it.
If you don’t have such devices in your arsenal, a needle roller will help out. It takes a long time to scratch old wallpaper. Finally, treat the walls with wallpaper remover and tear them off.
To remove old wallpaper glued to bustilat, you need to work with a scraper for a long time, wire brush, sandpaper.
- If there is putty under the wallpaper, this method is not recommended, so as not to have to refinish the walls.
- For paper sheets, the steaming method is suitable.
- Washable, vinyl and textile wallpaper It’s better to treat it with a chemical compound and then calmly remove it.
How to rip off in problem areas?
The work will require more time and patience. This applies to peeling old wallpaper in a room with suspended ceiling and for batteries.
From under a stretch ceiling
You will need:
- Sharp knife.
- Wide spatula (preferable).
- Water or glue solvent.
Algorithm of actions:
- Place the spatula vertically on the ceiling.
- Using a knife, trim the canvas along the edge of the spatula.
- Apply the spatula again, moving it.
- In this order, trim the wallpaper at the border with the ceiling along the entire perimeter.
- Moisten the wallpaper with water or solution and remove.
Behind the battery
If the radiator can be dismantled, there will be no problems. For a stationary battery you will have to use a small spatula or knife. The result depends on the size of the radiator and how far your hand reaches.
Removing old wallpaper with your own hands without involving professionals should not be difficult. Manufacturers offer special chemical compositions, which cope even with tightly glued old sheets. The main thing is to decide in advance on the removal method, prepare equipment and room.
