How to Strip Wallpaper Like a Professional

One of the most dreaded (and loathed) jobs any do it yourself handyman (or woman) will tell you nightmarish stories about is 'stripping wallpaper'. Professional painters, interior designers, drywall hangers, and even the occasional husband and wife team can all relate to the terrible task of stripping wallpaper ... but with a few little tips, the next wallpaper job you undertake will allow you to strip it down like the pros!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• spray bottle and sponge
• wall paper stripper
• scoring tool
• flat paint scraper or putty knife
• sander and sand paper
• patience
• steamer (optional)
• drop cloths to protect floors

1. 
    
   A safe floor is a happy floor

   First cover all exposed flooring with drop cloths and old towels. Protect baseboards by taping plastic drop cloths onto them with painters tape. You don't want to 'spot' your solid oak wood floors with water droplets!

2. 
    
   Scoring tool

   Use a professional scoring tool to 'score' the wallpaper thoroughly from top to bottom in circular and angular motions, letting the patterns overlap each other.

3. 
    
   Fill spray bottles.

   Mix a reputable brand of liquid wall paper stripper with hot tap water and fill up your plastic water bottle. (OR, if you prefer to use a green or eco-friendly wall paper stripper, you can try a mixture of white vinegar mixed with hot tap water in a 1 to 1 ratio if you don't mind the funky smell) Spray your scored walls well with the mixture until the water is beading up and running down the wallpaper. With a sponge soaked in the same mixture, 'mop' away excessive amounts of water and run sponge over walls in long even strokes. Repeat step 3 an average of 3 times PER WALL until the solution has saturated the layer of wallpaper.

4. 
    
   Find a seam and use the knife to separate paper from wall.

   When the wallpaper is thoroughly soaked, use the putty knife or paint scraper and find a 'seam' near the top of the wall. Slip the 'blade' edge of the knife beneath the seam so that the blade is level and flush with the wall surface but held at a 'carving' angle and slowly drag the knife downward in a steady motion. If the knife seems to 'catch' on dry paper or glue, use the spray bottle and spray that area well and let sit for 1-3 minutes to let the glue moisten so that you don't leave hunks of paper behind.

5. 
    
   Sand the wall to a smooth finish.

   Once you have separated all the paper from the walls, let the remaining moisture dry for about an hour so that the glue residue is no longer tacky and the dry wall is not vulnerable to being overly gouged or eroded. Use a belt sander or sanding block to sand away any glue buildup or small paper 'tags' that might still remain to leave a smooth wall surface behind.

6. 
    
   Prime, One coat of white paint; then paint your final color.

   Once your walls have been sanded to a smooth finish, paint the walls with one coat of durable primer and allow to completely dry; then paint the walls with one coat of some type of interior white wall paint to give a smooth paintable surface for your final wall color to be applied on.

7. 
    
   written by mumstheword

   If you feel like the hints and tips in this article will help you to strip wallpaper like a professional, or if you have any additional tips to add! then please don't forget to post your comments before you leave this page! Thanks so much for reading and rating my work here on ehow!

Tips & Warnings

• make sure to work in well ventilated areas
• use a face mask when painting or sanding to protect your respiratory system
• use ladders with caution
• be aware of how to use all chemicals and tools when doing any home repair project