WallpapersToGo.com
designer fabric online at Fabric World
WallpapersToGo.com
designer fabric online at Fabric World
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How to Properly Remove Wall Coverings

How to Properly Remove Wall Coverings

It looked so beautiful when you moved in!  However, a decade later, it's now time to put up some fresh, new wall coverings to give your home some rejuvenation.  We've all heard horror stories about removing wallpaper – the endless scraping, smelly solvents, or even whole walls destroyed by what should have been a simple process.  How do you avoid all that?  Whom do you go to for help?

 

First things first, you'll need to know what sort of wallpaper you're removing, and what kind of wall is underneath.  Some wall coverings are referred to as "dry strippable."  If you're lucky enough to be removing dry-strippable wallpaper, just grab a corner and carefully pull downward.  So long as you go slowly, the risk of damaging the wall underneath is minimal.  Beware of unsealed drywall beneath existing wall coverings, as drywall and liquids do not get along well.

 

If your wall coverings are not dry-strippable and are porous, a small amount of solvent with a large amount of warm water does wonders.  Use a large sponge or a paint roller to apply the solvent and give it about ten minutes to soak in.  If it peels off easily, great; if not, give the solvent a few more minutes to do its thing.  Try not to go over fifteen minutes of soaking to reduce the risk of damage to your wall.  Non-porous wall coverings will require scoring--small incisions in the surface of the wallpaper to allow the solvent to penetrate to the glue.   

 

Proper information can reduce the probability of wall-related disasters to practically zero.  However, if the original wall coverings were not properly applied, or were applied to an improperly sealed surface, steaming might be necessary.  Applying a professional steamer to old wallpaper can be an uncomfortable, hot, and dirty job, so don't try steaming unless you really have to.  Reputable dealer websites should contain all the information you need to ensure that your new wall coverings will stay up for as long as you want them to, and be easily removed when the time comes. 
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