There can be a variety of reasons why you would want to strip off your wallpaper. You may have bought a home where the previous owners have left some tacky walls. You may want to get rid of wallpaper because you now prefer glazed walls. You may want a new look for your house or a total renovation.

Stripping wallpaper is an arduous task. Once you peel off a portion, there's really no turning back. Nothing is more frustrating than an unattractive end result after spending some time peeling wallpaper.

Improper methods pose a lot of problems. You won't be able to prime and paint or hang new paper on your wall when there's unsightly glue residue that's still sticking on the wall surface. You have to get a smooth outcome before you can begin redecorating your wall.

There are two ways to remove wallpaper: the right way and the wrong way. Unfortunately, many become victims of the wrong way because it looks too easy.

An example of the wrong way is by grabbing a loose corner of the wallpaper and pulling it off. This method is going to frustrate you because wallpaper nowadays has a vinyl covering on top. Reaching and pulling on a loose corner only removes the vinyl covering at the top but leaves the paper-backing and the paste on the wall. That's when you get a messy end result.

In the past, water was the ultimate solution in removing wallpaper. If your wallpaper is the “peelable” type, then pulling on a loose corner may be effective. You can simply rinse off the paste and paperbacking by brushing it with water. This softens the remaining paper and the paste, making it easy to pull off. The ones that are easy to pull are less durable.

“Non-peelable” vinyls are more popular because they don't allow moisture to enter the wallpaper. Using regular water in removing this kind of wallpaper is not a good idea. Wallpaper today also has an enzyme that helps release glue from its backing.

Tip # 1 : No Wallpaper Steamers?

Below is a list of things you'll generally need if you don't have a wallpaper steamer. Be sure to invest some time looking for the right materials before you start so that you save a lot of time. The things that you need are available at any local hardware store and are usually inexpensive.

• Chemical wallpaper strippers
• Wallpaper scoring tool, sometimes called “paper tiger”
• Six-inch dry wall knife
• Sponge, rags
• Spray bottle
• Drop cloth

Procedure:

When you have all the right materials, clean the working area first by removing or relocating obstructions, such as furniture. Make sure to lay drop cloth on the floor. Drop cloth is necessary because stripping wallpaper is a messy job and this will make it easier for you to clean the area when you're done.

Now it's time to use the chemical stripper, such as Dif or M-1. This is a solution that you spray on the wallpaper so that you can strip wallpaper with ease. It dissolves the stubborn paper-backing and paste, especially if the wallpaper has been hanging for years. There are two varieties: the gel and the liquid form. If you're using the gel form, use the product right out of the container by dabbing it on using a sponge or cloth. If you're using the liquid form, follow the instructions properly when you create the mixture and it's easier to use a spray bottle instead of sponges. You can also try mixing a fabric softener with water as a substitute if your budget is tight. Some chemical strippers stink, so wear a gas mask if you're odor sensitive.

Proceed to scraping using a wallpaper scraper or a 6” drywall knife. While scraping, have a spray bottle with chemicals handy so that you can spray stubborn spots. Maintain a 45 degree angle on your strokes. You must scrape everything. Check the surface thoroughly while you scrape because backing paper may have the same color as the wall's bare surface.

Tip # 2 : If You Own a Wallpaper Steamer

Science tells us that steam can dissolve paste. For instance, in action or sci-fi movies, spies often open sealed envelopes without being caught by placing the envelope above steam so that they can easily pry open the sealing flap without much tampering. The same principle is true when removing wallpaper.

A machine called a wallpaper steamer allows you to easily place steam over your wallpaper so that you can dissolve the wallpaper paste. This machine consists of a water reservoir and uses electric heating and a hose that helps you direct steam at the wallpaper. This eliminates the common use of brushes, rollers, and buckets. It also gets rid of mixing solvent and the use of chemical wallpaper removal products.

Wallpaper steamers are available at your local home improvement store. To use one, just fill it up with water and heat it for about 20 minutes. In many cases, two tankfuls of water is enough to peel the wallpaper from a 10” x 20” room.

The same technique is done when using wallpaper steamers. You can start scouring the walls with a scoring tool while waiting for your steamer to warm up. Once you finish perforating the walls, just hold the steamer paddle against the wall for a few seconds. Be sure to do this with extra care so that you'll not damage the drywall underneath. Once the wallpaper saturates from the steam, you can gently start scraping it off using a drywall knife.

You can cut working time in half by placing the steamer paddle in another area, using your other hand, while you scrape some wallpaper off. It's just that easy!

Getting rid of wallpaper is a tedious process but with the right materials (whether you use a steamer or not) and technique, you can make this task a breeze. The most important thing is that you enjoy doing this. The best output always comes from the happiest of workers. Try to enjoy this task with your loved ones, and look forward to the new walls you'll have when you're done!