How to Remove Wall Paneling Glue

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Things You'll Need

  • Paint scraper

  • Hair dryer

  • Medium grain sandpaper

Removing old wood paneling seems like an easy way to update a room until you try to remove the glue that has been holding it on for a decade or more. Caution must be used to avoid irreparable damage to the drywall beneath. Elbow grease and a few helpful tools are all that is needed to remove the wall paneling glue and have the surface ready for painting.

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Step 1

Scrape as much of the glue from the walls as possible with the paint scraper. Be careful not to damage the drywall by scraping to hard.

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Step 2

Heat the glue where it is not coming off with scraping alone. Working in small sections, apply heat with the hottest setting on the blow dryer. After the glue is hot, scrape again with the paint scraper. Continue heating and scraping until the glue peels off.

Step 3

Use a medium grain sandpaper and sand the most stubborn glue spots lightly in a circular motion until the glue is gone. Avoid sanding areas that do not have glue on them.

Tip

Apply a thin layer of joint compound to the surface to smooth it for painting.

Warning

Do not used oil based cleaners as they will stain the drywall and future paint jobs.

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