How to tear off old wallpaper. How to easily remove old wallpaper

If you decide to make a home repair, then without changing the wallpaper, you probably will not get along. However, before starting any work, some preparation is required. For example, you should know that it is not always possible to glue wallpaper on an old wallpaper. The previous layer must be removed. How to do it, you will learn further.

Why do you need to shoot old wallpaper?

Not all people who plan to make repairs understand that cleaning up the old layer of finishing is necessary. After all, some believe that if the old paper wallpaper is tightly pasted with bustilate, then they will be a good basis for a new layer. However, this is not quite true.

First of all, please note that the previous finish may lose its previous appearance, which can provide negative consequences. For example, over time, the old paper turns yellow, the stains appear on the new wallpaper. This defect can not be fixed, it is necessary to redo the repair.

In addition, in some places, the finish may eventually fall off and destroy the new layer. Therefore, the walls should be prepared for repair. Naturally, you need to learn how to quickly tear off old wallpaper.

What tools are useful for work?

In order for the process to pass quickly and "painlessly", be sure to prepare the instrument. You will need:

- several spatulas of different widths;

- a bottle with a spray, in which water will be poured;

- Wet soft cloth;

- detergent with hot water;

- iron with steaming function;

- stepladder or stool.

These tools should be enough. However, different types of wallpaper are removed in different ways. Perhaps you need something else.

Preparatory work

Before you tear off the old wallpaper, you need to maximally secure the room. For example, before starting work, try to take out all the furniture from the room. If this can not be done, then move it closer to the center and cover with an unnecessary thick cloth or plastic wrap. In this case, you protect the furniture from dust and pieces of plaster, which can fall off during the cleaning of walls.

It is also desirable to remove from the premises all plants and other objects that are not closed in sideboards or walls. Naturally, it is necessary to decide where you want the wallpaper to be taken off the walls.

If you have a wooden floor or carpet, it must be protected against dust and moisture. To do this, apply paint tape and oilcloth.

Features of removing paper, non-woven and vinyl wallpaper

So, the nonwoven layer is the easiest to tear off. The fact is that it is made on the basis of thick paper, which practically does not break during operation. You just need to gently pick up the strip with a spatula and pull the canvas. The top layer of the wallpaper will be removed without problems. As for the paper, it will be slightly more difficult to eliminate.

Before you tear off old wallpaper on the basis of paper, you need to think about the way to moisturize. This is done with a sponge and hot water or steam iron. Please note that it is necessary to wet the strips abundantly and not entirely, because the moisture dries quickly. Now you can start removing with a spatula.

As for the vinyl sheet, then the situation is much more complicated. The fact is that water in this case does not help. It is better to use special solutions to remove this type of wallpaper. They are sold in a building store.

How to remove washable wallpaper?

Before you tear off old wallpaper of this type, you need to understand that water in this case will not help, because the cloths have a high resistance to moisture. However, there is another way of removing such a finish. First, scratch the canvas with a scraper or a serrated roller. Only after that you can moisten the coating and after a while to separate it from the surface.

If washable wallpapers are removed very hard, use a steam cushion. It should be applied in places where the canvas does not want to separate from the wall. If you do not have such a pillow, then use the usual steam iron.

Features of removing liquid and fiberglass wallpaper

This process is time-consuming, but it can be alleviated. Before you remove the old wallpaper based on fiberglass, you have to go to the store and buy special tools that help to separate the canvas from the base surface. However, if you can not do it yourself, you can contact the specialists.

As for liquid wallpaper, then to remove them, it is enough to moisten the wall, wait for the water to soak up the strip and it will swell, and then gently pry it with a spatula and remove it from the base.

Before you tear off the old wallpaper, 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 additionally plaster or putty them.

What if the old finish is glued to the bustilate?

This process can not be called simple, since a very old finish can last for many years. Before removing old wallpaper glued to the bustilate, it is necessary to stock up with water, polyethylene film, a metal brush, a spatula (scraper), a sprayer and a chemical solvent.

There are several ways to clean the walls from the previous finish:

- steaming;

- maceration;

- mechanical elimination;

- incomplete removal of the old cloth.

Note that if several layers of finishes are found on your wall, then you need to remove it carefully. In principle, it is enough to tear off the wallpaper on a small piece. At the same time, make sure that the wall is not damaged, since it is quite possible that a large portion of the plaster will fall out together with the finish.

Before you tear off the old wallpaper, get ready to the fact that they can not exfoliate completely. To remove residues, use soapy hot water. Naturally, it will be necessary to further clean the walls of Bustilate. With this, solvent or chemical washing will do fine. Note that the surface must be treated carefully, so as not to damage your health.

If the finish was done a very long time, and the canvas was attached to the concrete wall, then it is not easy to remove them by usual soaking. To facilitate work, use a steam iron.

Helpful Tips

Before you tear off the old wallpaper, check out some tricks that will help you do it quickly and easily:

- The wall needs to be moistened with a roller or sponge, while making sure that the liquid does not run down the wallpaper. In that case, they just will not be able to get wet well. In order for moisture to act, you need to wait about 15 minutes.

- Please 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 cloth to the wall and iron it for a few seconds.

- After removing the wallpaper, carefully clean the walls of the adhesive residue. To do this, it is recommended to use special solvents, which are sold in stores. You can also use a pumice stone or a scraper.

- Start to remove the canvas with the seams. In doing so, be especially careful around the 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 tear off old wallpaper with your own hand. A lot of time it does not take. Good luck!